About Us
About Specialized Pediatric Care
Specialized Pediatric Care (SPC) is a licensed Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care
(PPEC) center serving Medicaid-eligible children from birth to age 20 with special needs
and complex medical conditions, up to 12 hours a day, Monday through Saturday.
Our team provides:
Pediatric nursing and personal care
Speech, occupational, and physical therapy
Rehabilitation and mental health support
Medication and nutritional management
Educational programs
We believe real relationships — with families, staff, and the community — are what make
care work. Our team adapts to each child’s needs today, and as those needs change.
Specialized Pediatric Care Management Team
Dr. Tanya Roman, DO
At an early age, Dr. Roman discovered that her true passion was to serve the needs of children. During her college years, she had the opportunity to work with children with Autism and other developmental disabilities. While in medical school, it was evident that by becoming a Pediatrician, she could provide a healing touch to many more children and their families. Dr. Roman graduated from Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine and then went on to complete her Pediatric Residency at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. As a board-certified Pediatrician, she is experienced in the care of newborns, children, and adolescents. As Medical Director of Specialized Pediatric Care, Dr. Roman provides oversight, leadership, and guidance to ensure the quality care for all children with disabilities and complex medical needs that are served by the organization.
Dayana Ballaga RN
Dayana Ballaga Perez has a strong healthcare background that combines her medical education with her experience as a Registered Nurse. She graduated as a Medical Doctor in Cuba in 2009 and practiced Comprehensive General Medicine for six years, caring for pediatric, adult, and elderly patients. After immigrating to the United States, she became a Registered Nurse and began her nursing career in pediatric Home Health in January 2024, gaining valuable experience caring for children with complex medical and skilled nursing needs.
In August 2024, Dayana joined the center as a Registered Nurse and was promoted to Director of Nursing in January 2026. More than a boss, she is a leader who inspires teamwork, supports her staff, and leads by example. She oversees nursing services and a multidisciplinary team while promoting patient safety, compassionate care, and high standards of quality. Her combined background as a physician and Registered Nurse allows her to lead with clinical knowledge, dedication, and a strong commitment to creating the best possible environment for every child, family, and member of her team.
Susana Rodriguez
Susana Rodriguez is a healthcare management professional with 20 years of experience in overseeing healthcare structures. She holds an economics degree from Escuela Economia-Jose Joaquin Valdes Piar, an institution dedicated to economics education. Susana’s academic experience prepared her to contribute to the development of healthcare in South Florida. She has worked with various medical centers and has helped lead their expansion throughout the local community, making her an individual with the drive and experience to positively impact the local health community of South Florida.
As Administrator and Office Manager for SPC, Susana manages oversees the day-to-day operations of the facility. Aside from working alongside the nursing and therapeutic teams, she is the point of contact for all parents, caregivers, physicians, and case managers. Susana also works closely with SPC’s Director of Nursing and the individual medical professionals that oversee each child’s individualized plan of care, to ensure that the continuum of care for each child is met, together with their continuous development and independence.
Dr. J.G. Padin, PhD
Dr. J.G. Padin is a bilingual CCC/SLP with 28 years of experience in the field. He holds the Certificate of Clinical Competencies by the American Speech, Language Hearing Association (ASHA) in Adult Rehabilitation, Administration Special Education, Early Childhood Development, Higher Education, and Health/Safety implementation and monitoring. Dr. Padin earned a MS-CD from the University of PR Medical Science Campus, a Ph.D. in Administration Rehabilitation Education Science, a Masters in Public Health, and a Post-Doctoral from University of Kansas (KU) Juniper Garden Children Project. His areas of expertise include evidence-based practices related to Q/A compliance for health/safety and disabilities regulations, augmentative and alternative communication validity/reliability inter-rater agreement protocols. Curriculum Bases assessments in communication learning skills in children and adolescents, mainly in neuro-developmental domains such as: Functional communication alternatives, self-regulation, language, social-emotional communication, cognitive, swallowing/ feeding sensory issues, life span transitioning, and problem-solving skills. All within an inclusive approach, focusing on rigorous assessments, research and culture/ linguistic diversity, behaviors, and stable social interactions. Dr. Padin serves as the Rehabilitation/Habilitation Educational Consultant for SPC and is an active member of the Quality Assurance Committee.
Clara Almarall
Clara Almarall is the Co-Owner of Specialized Pediatric Care. She is also the Managing Partner and Co-Owner for Specialized Therapy Center, providing speech, occupational and physical therapy services to developmentally and/or physically delayed Medicaid recipients, from birth to age 18. Clara is responsible for managing the clinical operations and quality control for both organizations, while directly supervising a medical staff of more than 45 licensed therapists, nurses, and medical assistants.
Clara is a pediatric development and language specialist with over 30 years of experience in the clinical, academic and research fields. Originally from Cuba, she served as the regional director for the Granma (State) Center of Diagnostic and Orientation (CDO), an organization dedicated to the care and diagnosis of children with complex medical, genetic and behavioral conditions from birth to age 21. Prior to her executive experience, Clara dedicated over 10 years to clinical research with specific interests in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Down syndrome, common acquired and congenital encephalopathies.
Clara holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Defectology and Special Education from the Institute of Higher Education Pedagogic Education in Havana, Cuba and Master of Science in Phonetics, Speech Therapy and Language Development from the University of Medical Sciences in Santiago de Cuba.
Terry Cifuentes
Terry Cifuentes is Co-Owner and Financial Officer of Specialized Pediatric Care, and Co-Owner and Managing Partner of Specialized Therapy Center, a pediatric therapy center licensed by the Florida Department of Health providing speech-language, occupational, and physical therapy to developmentally and physically delayed Medicaid recipients from birth to age 21.
Terry brings over twenty-eight years of corporate experience to SPC, with a background spanning law, executive administration, and the luxury automotive industry. She began her career as a Florida Bar and NALA Certified Paralegal before moving into executive administration, where she built deep expertise in business management, corporate relations, sales, and marketing. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Barry University in Miami.
At SPC, Terry oversees the business and financial operations of the organization, along with a medical and administrative staff of more than 45 employees — ensuring the center runs on solid footing so its clinical team can focus fully on the children in their care
Daniel Cifuentes,
Daniel Cifuentes founded Specialized Pediatric Care in 2017 with a clear vision: to build something the community didn’t yet have — a place where children with complex medical needs and special needs could receive coordinated nursing, therapy, and education all in one place, close to home.
Before opening the center, Daniel spent his career in business development, building the kind of operational and relationship-driven expertise that would shape SPC’s foundation. He believed that families caring for medically fragile children deserved more than fragmented care spread across a dozen providers — they deserved one team, working together, that treated every child as their own.
That vision remains at the heart of SPC today, guiding how the center cares for every child who walks through its doors.
Lightwork Education & Wellness Center
Lisbeth Coto
Lisbeth Coto is a passionate educator with over 22 years of experience in the education field. Not only leading as the principal of a clinical integrated private school in Florida but also serving Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 18 years. Ms. Coto is a multifaceted educator with experience in both standard and special education, assistive technology, and state assessments. She is certified with the State of Florida in ESE K-12, Social Studies 6-8 and Educational Leadership K-12. Ms. Coto currently serves on the University of Miami’s Family Navigator Program’s Advisory Committee, Step Up’s Gardiner Advisory Council and Chamberlain University’s Community Advisory Committee.
Turning chaos into harmony was the catalyst for opening Lightwork Education & Wellness Center (LEWC) in 2020. LEWC is a Florida private school integrating core education, energy science, yoga, visual arts, and personal growth into an innovative education model for children, teens and adults. Lisbeth is currently the owner/CEO of LEWC and serves on the University of Miami’s Family Navigator Program’s Advisory Committee, Step Up’s Gardiner Advisory Council and Chamberlain University’s Community Advisory Committee. She strives to create a true whole-person approach to learning and promotes awareness to become the best version of ourselves.