Eric Berger M.D., FAAP - Pediatrician (Owner and Founder)

Even though he is a relative newcomer to Philadelphia, Dr. Eric Berger is proud to open the first new general pediatrics office in Center City in more than 15 years. In 1998 he came to Philly to train in Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with every intention of returning to jobs waiting for him in his hometown, Atlanta, Georgia. However, he became firmly planted here within 2 years after falling in love with Center City and his now wife, Melissa.

Experience

For the past 9 years, he has worked as a full-time general pediatrician at a pediatric practice in NE Philadelphia and as a part-time pediatric hospitalist at Holy Redeemer Hospital. During that period, he taught University of Pennsylvania medical students, fulfilled his requirements for board certification in developmental pediatrics, spearheaded the AAP Medical Home Project. Dr Berger also helped start a developmental pediatrics specialty clinic at Special People in the Northeast. He intends to continue to work there 2 half days a week in order to serve people with special needs with whom he has already developed a relationship.

Philosophy

In starting Center City Pediatrics, Dr. Berger hopes to utilize technology and his experience to build a comprehensive, collaborative, family centered general pediatrics practice located 6 blocks from his home in Fitler Square.

Education

Dr. Berger attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he majored in History and earned the school's highest award for service and academic achievement. He then attended medical school at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine on a full academic scholarship. He completed his general pediatrics training in 1998 at Emory University School of Medicine, where he was recognized for earning the top score in his residency class on his general pediatrics board certification exam.

Personal

In addition to developmentally focused general pediatrics, he is interested in international travel. He has given medical lectures in China, run a pediatric ward in Zambia, Africa, and most recently, served as medical director on a trip to Israel for young adults with special needs.

Dr. Berger lives with his wife, Melissa, who is a pediatrician at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and their son, Benjamin Harry.

Cynthia Warren M.D., FAAP - Pediatrician

Coincidence, or luck, if you prefer, has brought Dr. Cynthia Warren to Center City Pediatrics.  In the fall of 2007 her husband, Dr. Wilbert Warren, knew he had to move his thriving internal medicine practice.  While negotiating for adjacent medical office spaces on the 3rd Floor of 1740 South Street, he and Dr. Berger met.   Knowing that Dr. Warren’s wife was an outstanding pediatrician, Dr. Berger suggested that she and her husband should commute to work together.  Seven months later, this little tactic paid off—Dr. Warren has decided to join Center City Pediatrics located next to her husband’s office, and Center City Pediatrics is thrilled to have her with us.

EDUCATION

Dr. Warren graduated Cum Laude and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Howard University in 1988. She went on to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry where she earned her Doctor of Medicine degree (1992).  In 1995 she completed her pediatric residency training at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children where she was awarded the Henry W. Baird Award for excellence in teaching, spirit of inquiry, and compassion for patients and their families.

EXPERIENCE

After completing her residency, Dr. Warren accepted a position at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children’s outpatient clinic.  She has worked in this academic setting for 12 years, treating children and teaching medical students and residents.  For 6 years, she served as medical director for outpatient services.  She currently holds a faculty appointment as Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Drexel University College of Medicine.

PERSONAL

Dr. Warren is married to Wilbert Warren, MD, an internist and 3rd floor office neighbor.  They are the proud parents of two wonderful children.  In addition to her family, she is devoted to her church where she serves as co-leader of both the Preschool Ministry and the Health Team Ministry.  Dr. Warren looks forward to joining Center City Pediatrics and continuing her long-held passion for pediatric education and partnering with families to optimize the care of all children.

Karen Hovav M.D.

Don't let her glitzy and glamorous past experience fool you. Dr. Hovav is a real doctor and does not play one on TV. She does, however, come from the land where that is common. She claims to have been oblivious to the many stars she treated while working in her previous position at Beverly Hills Pediatrics. "Kids are Kids; People are People," she exclaims!

We are thrilled that now she is among our people. The East Coast is not totally unfamiliar territory to her. She attended Brandies University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and then pursued medical school in Israel, where she was born. She returned to California for her pediatric training at University of Los Angeles Children's Hospital, where she was awarded the Resident Spirit Award, due the enormous positive energy she shares with all her patients.

Her colleagues at Beverly Hills Pediatrics begged her to stay, but love won out, in the form of her boyfriend, who is completing his training as a pediatric ICU doc. Sorry to see her leave the West Coast, her past colleagues had only one negative thing to say---She's Short! But we won't hold that against her. She will more easily be able to relate to your children.

Linda Derbyshire, IBCLC

GOT MILK??  If you do, Linda Derbyshire will surely help your baby find it.  For the past 10 years, she has been helping babies around Philadelphia, including her TWINS, find their liquid gold. Whether babies are too sleepy, too vigorous, too rough or just plain confused, Linda is an expert at teaching them to stay connected to their life-source without hurting their nurturing mother.

Linda is certified by her profession’s highest governing body, the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC).  Even more importantly, she has earned the trust and confidence of mothers around the city and her colleagues at Pennsylvania Hospital.  In fact, this “word of mouth” reputation is how Dr. Berger found her.  Center City Pediatrics is thrilled that he did.

She is such a special resource that we want to share her with all babies, not just the ones who receive all of their care at our office.  Their mothers can call Center City Pediatrics any time to schedule an appointment with her.

 

Brian Daly, Ph. D. - Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Mind over matter…….or at least on equal footing.  That’s the CCP approach and why we are thrilled to now have Dr. Brian Daly on staff at Center City Pediatrics. Dr. Daly is a home grown Philadelphian who returned to Center City with his wife after a near decade long stint in Boston and Chicago.  Clearly, he must have his head on straight, and he is devoted  to helping you and your child get  there, as well.  

Over the last 2 yrs he has been serving as director of the Clinical Psychology Internship Program at Temple University where he has also been an Assistant Professor in Public Health for 4 years.  He has been working with children and families to promote emotional, behavioral, social and educational well being.  His specific clinical interests include children with chronic illness, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), psychoeducational assessment, school-based mental health services, sleep loss in adolescents, prevention and resiliency, and evidence-based psychosocial interventions in youth. 

Dr. Daly will be working with us two days a week, by appointment, to offer our patients and the Center City community psychotherapy services and psychoeducational testing. Appointments and introductory meetings can be scheduled with him like all other appointments at CCP.  He is also happy to provide references upon request.  

Tamara Sepe, M.S./CCC - Speech Language Pathologist

a board certified speech language pathologist with over 10 years of experience, is a perfect "fit" for Center City Pediatrics. Dr. Berger is sure of this because Tamara heard him on the radio and reached out to him as a like-minded soul. In addition to offering speech/ language evaluations and therapy, Tamara teaches the pediatric portion of the feeding course for master's level speech therapy students at Temple University. Previously, she collaborated with the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Rehabilitation to optimize care for children with oral/motor and speech impairments.

Like the rest of the staff of Center City Pediatrics, Tamara's interests extend far beyond a single body part (THE MOUTH). She is interested in working with the child as a complete person, intimately connected with family, caregivers, and community. Communication and relationship building are her main interests. The mouth and the sounds it makes is only one tool which she strives to hone.

When not working, Tamara enjoys communicating with her husband, an artist, and nurturing her many friendships-a skill she hopes to foster in all the people with whom she works. She is also certified as a Relationship Developmental Intervention Consultant.

Appointments with her for evaluations, consultations or ongoing speech therapy at Center City Pediatrics can be scheduled by calling the front office. More information about her approach can be found on her personal website www.kidsrelate.org.

Erica Salvi, MBA

Baby Loves Disco. Center City Pediatrics loves Erica even more. Erica solidifies Center City Pediatrics' place as a community practice. She, her daughter Isabella, and her husband Tony have been stalwart members of the Center City Community for years. Erica has led numerous committees at The Philadelphia School, Little Friends of Rittenhouse Square and in her Fitler Square neighborhood. Most recently, she was the national coordinator for Baby Loves Disco, where she planned community dance parties in multiple cities.

Erica completed her BA in communications at University of Richmond and her MBA at St. Joseph University. In her previous life she was a corporate project management consultant. Now, she is committed to her family and working in places she loves.

We hope she will lend her professional touch to all of our business systems operations so that patient care is optimized. We also intend to give her the reigns at making Center City Pediatrics more than just a place for pediatric medicine, but also a community destination for childhood wellbeing.

Caroline Kapka - Office Manager

Caroline considers a pediatric office her second home. She has been living in one for the past 25 years. She had brief journey into the business world in order to remind her where she is meant to be. Before helping build Center City Pediatrics from the ground up, she helped run another Center City office and brightened the world of Northeast Philly pediatrics for a few years. She is in charge of maintaining all organizational systems, purchasing, payroll, and keeping the staff and families smiling.

Caroline stays busy in her spare time keeping up with her 2 adolescent children and her puppy.

Brittany Kissling, CMA

Don't be fooled by Brittany's young, bubbly appearance. She's an experienced pediatric office provider. Besides raising her own 2 boys, she has been handling other's children for over half her life. An MA since 2005, Brittany worked in Northeast Philly before joining the team at CCP, where she manages to keep kids smiling even while sticking needles into their arms. She is also in charge of all medical inventory, vaccines, and making sure that Dr. Berger doesn't forget his stethoscope (or head!)

When not working, Brittany keeps the men in her life (Big O, Little O and Lucas) in line with her charm, sharp tongue, and if necessary, her "Wonder Woman" superpowers.

Amy Oberholtzer, MA

To say the least, we did our "due diligence" in hiring Amy. Caroline worked with her aunt for years and has watched her grow up!! She has grown from a quiet, shy child into a highly conscientious and kind mother. Her kindness and concern for others has lead her into the medical profession, where she has started her journey with completion of Medical Assistant training in 2009 at the top of her class. After completing her internship at an "old fashioned office", she is thrilled to apply her high-tech medical skills to her every day work here at Center City Pediatrics.

Amy is the proud mother of Madelene, a spunky preschooler and the wife of Micheal, a 6 ft 3 inch future Philly police officer who promises to always be on standby for us if anyone says anything bad about our patients.

Amanda Vitelli, CMA

Amanda walks to the "beat of her own drummer" After years of managing an F.Y.E music store, she decided that a career in medicine was where she really belonged. An ad in The South Philly Review brought her to us in 2008 and she quickly earned little Benjamin's vote of approval. Although her scrubs are fun and flashy, she's quick to get down to business to make sure that parents don't have to wait too long and children leave smiling. She also takes care of business as our billing assistant, ready to interpret those statements and EOBs for any patient needing her help.

We hope to keep her as a medical assistant at CCP as long as possible, but know that she hopes to return to school soon to become a Registered Nurse.

Jaime Vecchione - Billing Manager

Multiple northeast Philadelphia physicians are crying over the departure of this billing expert.  She has run billing and credentialing with family physicians, ENT’s, and other surgeons. Dr. Berger served as her children’s pediatrician, and he was thrilled when she volunteered to follow him and help set up the billing systems for Center City Pediatrics. She is truly the go-to-girl for all matters insurance and billing and the CCP organizational guru.

In her spare time, she chases her 3 kids around the house and makes sure that her husband does not teach them any bad habits.

Danielle Labuski

We took a chance with Danielle. When we realized that we needed another friendly, knowledgeable person to help Caroline with reception and administrative tasks, Job Corps approached us. Most of us had never heard of this organization which trains young adults to work in fields of their choice. "Why not give it a try," we thought.-."It was only a 1 month internship." And then Danielle arrived! After 1 week we knew we had a keeper.. That was, if she was willing to keep us. After all, Danielle travels close to an hour to work at CCP.

Since graduating high school, she has wanted to work in ways that help people. The kids are "icing on the cake". This attitude clearly shines through in the extra attention she puts forth to make sure each child has just the right sticker before they leave!

Benjamin Harry Berger

Although he now spends much of his time consulting in other locations, Benjamin is still a regular at Center City Pediatrics.  He checks in weekly to make sure that the staff is maintaining good humor, adequate patience, and attentiveness to safety.   Any slip up-- he is bound to find and complain vociferously. We’ve learned that we don’t want to test him too much at this stage.