Our Care Team

Candida Brown, MD, was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. During her youth, she was a nationally ranked gymnast until a knee injury closed that chapter in her life. Through her own physical therapy, she became interested in the medical field, and attended the University of Illinois College of Health Professions, graduating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. She then moved to Houston where she worked as an OTR first at The Methodist Hospital, and then in the local school district where she provided occupational therapy services to children with special needs. Through her experiences as an OTR, she found her passion in caring for children with neurological concerns.

Rujul Desai, MD, was inspired to become a doctor after seeing her father working in his pediatric practice. She attended Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research in Surat, India before moving to New Mexico for her residency at University of New Mexico. She completed a pediatric epilepsy fellowship at Stanford University. Helping each child she sees live life to their fullest potential is her greatest reward. In her free time, Dr. Desai loves dancing, swimming, and exploring vegetarian cuisine.

Hazel Hiroshima, MSN, RN, CPNP, grew up surrounded by doctors and nurses who inspired her to go into medicine. She graduated from California State University Long Beach with a degree in nursing. She spent several years working as a pediatric ICU nurse while also pursuing her master’s degree in nursing at the University of California, San Francisco, specializing as a pediatric nurse practitioner. She has extensive experience in both hospital and clinic settings. She enjoys being part of a child’s journey toward a healthy future. Outside of work, she appreciates family time, cooking, and travel.

Vanessa Puschendorf, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, brings a whole-person approach to her pediatric patients. She grew up in a family of medical professionals who were the inspiration for her career as a nurse practitioner. A Bay Area native, Puschendorf earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco. She takes pride in serving her community and volunteering. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her husband and cat. She also speaks advanced conversational Spanish.