Meet Our Team

Ronald Davis, MD, FAAN

Child Neurology MD

Board-Certified in Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology, and Epilepsy
Pediatric Neurologist & Epilepsy Specialist – Orlando, FL

For more than 30 years, Dr. Ronald Davis has dedicated his career to helping children and families living with neurological and seizure disorders. A board-certified pediatric neurologist and epilepsy specialist, Dr. Davis brings both exceptional expertise and genuine compassion to his patients at his private practice in Orlando, Florida. He is honored to have been selected as a “Best Doctor” in Orlando for more than 15 years running. 

Dr. Davis received his medical degree from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and completed his fellowship in Child Neurology at Children’s Hospital Boston, followed by advanced training and an academic appointment at Harvard University, where he served as an assistant professor. A U.S. Army veteran, Dr. Davis served with honor for 10 years before transitioning fully to medicine.

Dr. Davis previously served as Co-Director of Pediatric Epilepsy at the Level 4 Epilepsy Center at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and as Medical Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Orlando Clinic. His clinical interests include epilepsy, Tourette syndrome, movement disorders, and pediatric headaches, with a focus on delivering cutting-edge care in a personalized, family-centered environment.

Recognizing the fear and uncertainty that can come with epilepsy, Dr. Davis founded one of the few Long-Term Monitoring (LTM) Centers outside of a hospital setting, designed specifically for children. With five dedicated beds and continuous EEG monitoring, the center offers a calmer, more comfortable alternative to hospital-based testing—helping families get answers and treatment plans in a less intimidating space.

Dr. Davis also established a clinical research program within his practice to ensure that families have access to the newest therapies through clinical trials—bringing the innovation of an academic center into the comfort and familiarity of a private practice setting.

For Dr. Davis, medicine has always been about connection—learning each child’s story, partnering with families, and striving every day to help kids thrive beyond their diagnosis. After decades in practice, Dr. Davis still finds it “heart-wrenching” to see a child struggling with seizures—but he’s just as driven today as when he began to make a lasting difference in their lives. “We focus on how we can get a patient’s epileptic seizures under control. It’s about giving every child a chance at a normal life—and helping families regain a sense of peace and control.”

Outside the clinic, Dr. Davis enjoys time on his cattle ranch, where he finds balance and peace working the land and caring for his animals. He also loves international travel and cherishes time with his wife and three daughters.

 

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Undergraduate School: N.C. State University, 1984

Professional School: UNC-chapel Hill school Public Health, 1986

Professional School: East Carolina University, 1990

Internship: Pitt County Memorial Hospital, 1992

Fellowship: Children’s Hospital (Boston, MA), 1995

 

Abby Kunz, MD

Child Neurology MD

Dr. Abby Kunz is a Neurologist with Special Qualification in Child Neurology. She works in our Denver, Colorado office.
Dr. Abby Kunz grew up in Cincinnati, OH. She completed her undergraduate education at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and received a degree in Psychology and Biology.  She worked at Anderson Consulting for two years before making the decision to go to medical school. She began her journey to become a doctor at The Ohio State University and then transferred to Duke University where she received her MD.  She completed her residency at Duke with five years of training in Pediatrics and Neurology. She is board certified in Neurology with a Special Qualification in Child Neurology and also board certified in Epilepsy.

Dr. Kunz moved to Albuquerque to begin her career in Pediatric Neurology at Presbyterian Medical Group where she worked for 19 years, before moving to Denver.  She specializes in treating patients with seizure disorders and epilepsy, developmental delays, and movement disorders such as tics and cerebral palsy.

Her favorite thing about working in this field is helping patients and their families go through challenging and stressful times and watching them get better and, in many cases, eventually come off their medications altogether.

“I always knew I wanted to work with kids, even before medical school. Working with kids is fun. I like making children feel special and heard. I love the long-term relationships that I can build with people, and I like to make kids smile and help them feel ok with their condition.”

Dr. Kunz has received multiple Top Docs awards for her work in Pediatric Neurology in Albuquerque. When she is not working, she likes to spend time with her family exploring Colorado.  She stays active running and hiking and as a college tennis player she still enjoys getting a racquet out. She also plays piano and loves watching sports – football, basketball and hockey games.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Undergraduate School: Dartmouth College, 1992

Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine, 2000

Internship: Duke University Hospital, 2001

Residency: Duke University Hospital, 2005

Board Specialities:
• American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology – Psychiatry & Neurology, Epilepsy

• American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology – Psychiatry & Neurology, Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology

Frank Lopez, MD

Child Neurology MD

Frank A. Lopez, M.D., is a neurodevelopmental pediatrician. He completed a 2-year residency in general pathology and a pediatric residency at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and a 2-year fellowship in pediatric and adult neurology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. After completion of training, he moved to Florida and became and assistant director of Medical Education for Pediatrics Orlando Regional Medical Center and at the Arnold Palmer for Children and Women/Orlando Regional Healthcare System, and he served as volunteer adjunct faculty for the department of education psychology for the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Lopez has participated in numerous clinical research studies exploring the efficacy and safety of medications for generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and ADHD in children and adolescents. Dr. Lopez has authored/coauthored approximately 40 articles or abstracts for scientific meetings and has been published in such peer-reviewed journals as Pediatrics, the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the Journal of Pediatrics, and the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. He is a member of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and member of the American Professional Society for ADHD and Related Disorders. He has presented posters and or spoken on ADHD not only in the U.S., but also in Canada, Colombia, Mexican Society for Pediatric Neurology Monterey Mexico, The ACES Pediatric Neurology Conference, at JeJu, South Korea as well as Seoul South Korea, Barcelona Spain, Valencia Spain at the Spanish Society for Pediatric Neurology, Florionopolis, Brazil, South America, Copenhagen, Denmark, and Helsinki, Finland. He has also presented on the American Perspective on ADHD at a Mini-Symposium in Rivierduinenin the Netherlands, and a roundtable in Switzerland on the same topic. Additionally, he was involved with the implementation of public law 99-457 for the high-risk infant for the state of Florida.

Dr Davis has been named by his peers as one of Orlando Magazine’s Finest Doctors 16 times since 2009.

 

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Professional School: Universidad CETEC, 1981

Internship: DMC Harper University Hospital, 1983

Residency: Wayne State University – School of Medicine, 1984

Residency: DMC – Children’s Hospital of Michigan, 1986

Fellowship: Medical College of Georgia, 1988

Kit Meddles, MD

Child Neurology MD

Katharine Meddles, MD, is a board-certified pediatric neurologist, providing care for a full range of pediatric neurologic conditions. Dr. Meddles enjoys treating the full spectrum of pediatric neurological conditions. She is passionate about using advanced technology, testing and diagnostic methods to provide the best treatment possible.

Dr. Meddles earned her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She went on to complete a pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital Oakland and a pediatric neurology fellowship at Washington University St. Louis School of Medicine. She is a member of the Child Neurology Society, The American Academy of Neurology, and the American Epilepsy Society.

Dr. Meddles is known for her patient, gentle demeanor coupled with clinical expertise. Parents describe her as a sincerely devoted and trustworthy expert who takes time to ensure conditions and treatment options are clearly understood.

Education and Training

Undergraduate School: University of Virginia, 2003

Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine, 2009

Internship: Children’s Hospital Oakland, 2010

Residency: Children’s Hospital Oakland, 2012

Residency: St Louis Children’s Hospital, 2015

Board Specialities:

• American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology – Psychiatry & Neurology, Epilepsy

• American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology – Psychiatry & Neurology, Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology

Jennifer Hermantin, CPNP

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Jennifer Hermantin knows that her enthusiasm for nursing, pediatrics and health began during her undergraduate years in college. During her clinical rotations, she had the opportunity to care for children. Following the completion of her program, she worked as a registered nurse on the pediatric medical-surgical unit at Florida Hospital Orlando. Jennifer’s early experiences have evolved into a rewarding career, anchored in the principle of dedication to patients and their families. Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in health science education and a Master’s Degree in Nursing. Her educational focus is on the health and wellness of families. In her role as nurse practitioner, she uses her experience and education to provide a comprehensive approach to health and wellness for our patients and their families.

BOARD SPECIALITIES:

• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board – Nurse Practitioner, Pediatrics

CREDENTIALS

  • Master’s Degree in Nursing.
  • Board-certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
  • Member: National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.Professional School: University of Florida, 2005

Jessie Miller PA-C

Physician Assistant

Jessie Miller was born and raised in Orlando. She has spent most of her life here. In fact, she lives down the street from her parents and the home she grew up in.

Jessie attended college at Florida State, where she majored in Biology in the Honors program. From there, she went on to the Medical University of South Carolina for PA school. There, she received a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies. She has been a Pediatric PA for more than15 years and has worked in the neonatal intensive care unit, newborn nursery, pediatric orthopedics, as well as, pediatric neurology.

At Pediatric Neurology and Epilepsy Specialists, Jessie’s favorite part of her job is the patients. She specializes in diagnosing and managing neurological conditions in children, including: epilepsy, migraines, developmental delays, and neuromuscular disorders. She works closely with families to create personalized treatment plans, provide education and support, and ensure that each child receives comprehensive, compassionate care.

As both a physician assistant and as a parent, she is passionate about working with families navigating the challenges and triumphs of raising children with special needs. She can relate well with her patients because her oldest son is Autistic. This personal journey with her own son, who is minimally-speaking and has high support needs, has given her a profound understanding of the unique obstacles her patient’s families face.

Her own experience drives her commitment to provide compassionate, individualized care that empowers families and helps their children thrive. She finds immense fulfillment in supporting others, knowing firsthand how rewarding it is to see progress, build connections, and foster resilience. She finds it an honor to walk alongside these families on their journey.

In her free time, Jessie loves spending time with her husband and chasing around their three wild boys. She enjoys cooking healthy meals for her family, spending time outside at the pool or the beach, and reading fiction.

Abigail Casainova, CPNP

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Abigail Casainova earned her nursing degrees from Case Western Reserve University and Drexel University, becoming a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certified by the PNCB.

She began her career in the NICU at UPMC Children’s Hospital, later joining CHOP where she worked across several specialties before serving as a Genetics Nurse Practitioner in the Overgrowth and Beckwith-Wiedemann Clinic.

Abby loves pediatrics because of the resilience and honesty of children—helping them heal and get back to being kids is what inspires her most. She enjoys the unfiltered thoughts of children which often lead to moments of laughter and fun during the appointments.

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, skiing, kayaking, and running, as well as spending time with her niece and nephew, baking, reading, and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins.

Leslie Pedreira, CPNP

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Leslie Pedreira has been a pediatric nurse practitioner since 2000. She joined Pediatrix Neurology and Epilepsy of Florida in 2014, after spending seven years in general pediatrics. Prior to this, she worked in Tampa as a pediatric nurse practitioner in pediatric neurology. She is double board-certified as a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner and a primary mental health specialist through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board/National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Leslie is a member of the Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She has special interest in epilepsy, migraines and clinical research.

CREDENTIALS

Undergraduate School: Florida State University, 1992

Professional School: University of South Florida, 2000

Board Specialities:

  • Pediatric Nursing Certificate Board– Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric
  • Pediatric Nursing Certificate Board—Primary Mental Health Specialist