Helpful Resources

Our Medical Assistants

Our MA’s are led and supervised by our licensed nurses on staff. They are the first point of care for patients and a major link with information from the providers. They will welcome the family into the office and take patient’s height and weight and ask pertinent questions to communicate with the providers.

Our Medical Assisting staff will perform well visit screenings and immunizations for patients. They will provide informative hand-outs that the provider feels is appropriate for the patients.

Administrative staff

Led by our Office Manager, our administrative office staff includes receptionists and billing personnel.

They are available to assist parents in navigating through all aspects of their children’s registration, appointments, and financial details.

Patty Martin-Claspell

With over 15 years in medical office management, Patty is happy to lead Pacific Coast Pediatrics! Some children know her as, “The Chief”.

Patty is married with grown children of her own, as well as having an adopted son in Junior High. She is known as “Mom” to her own kids or known to others as, “That lady who SCUBA dives”.

Amy Winter, M.D.

Amy Winter, M. D. was born and raised in Monterey, CA. After finishing her residency at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she started a family of her own and returned to the area to serve the families and children of our local communities.

Dr. Winter enjoys caring for children of all ages. She loves supporting parents as they welcome their new baby, and watching children grow from birth through young adulthood. She is an ally for parents and teens and creates a safe and welcoming space for all of her patients.

Robert Naimark, M.D.

Pacific Coast Pediatrics Partner

Robert Naimark M.D. completed his undergraduate education at UC Berkeley and then went on to achieve his medical degree at UCLA. Dr. Naimark completed his Pediatric residency at Michigan State University. He has served in the roles of Clinical Instructor in the department of human development and later served as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of New Mexico.

Before landing with Pacific Coast Pediatrics in 2001, Dr. Naimark spent several years as Senior Staff Pediatrician and then Medical Director for a clinic affiliated with San Luis Obispo General Hospital in San Luis Obispo, California. There he also served as Chair of the Hospital Quality Assurance Committee and was a member of the Head Start Advisory Board.

Dr. Naimark especially enjoys the communication aspects of providing health care for children and their parents.

He is happily married, with four children including two doctors, and six grandchildren. When not at the office, he is playing tennis, playing the piano, playing gardener, or just playing on his computer.

Lauren Schmidt, PA-C

Lauren Schmidt, PA-C joined Pacific Coast Pediatrics on July 26, 2022. She received her Master of Sciences in Physician Assistant Studies from Stanford University. Her area of concentration is in childhood development. Lauren comes from a family of physicians and she grew up in nearby San Martin.

Lauren played division 1 women’s soccer for Stanford on the national championship winning team! In 2010 Lauren was the Captain of the first Trinidad & Tobago National Team ever to win the FIFA U-12 Women’s World Cup. Needless to say, Lauren has a strong interest in physical fitness. She applies this interest in physical fitness as she motivates patients to make healthy lifestyle changes for preventative care and/or management of obesity and related diseases.

Tonya Blakemore, M.D.

Tonya Blakemore, M.D. graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and went on to earn her medical degree at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Blakemore completed her residency at the University of Arizona Medical Center, in Tucson, Arizona.

Before coming to Salinas, Dr. Blakemore spent some time working for Fremont County Pediatric and Allergy Clinic in Lander, Wyoming.

Dr. Blakemore joined Pacific Coast Pediatrics in 2009 and enjoys working with children so much that she has 4 of her own! She and her husband enjoy the community and coast and are active at Trinity Bible Church in Morgan Hill. In her spare time, Dr. Blakemore likes to bake, play the piano, and sing in between mothering and home schooling her children.

Dr. Blakemore enjoys working with children because kids are resilient, speak their minds, and smile at you even when you do hard things. Working alongside parents to care for their children is also a privilege that brings great satisfaction.

Christine McCuistion, M.D.

Pacific Coast Pediatrics Partner

Christine McCuistion, M.D. grew up in Florida. She attended the University of Florida where she earned her medical degree and completed her residency at Shands Children’s Hospital. After working several years as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, she went on to work as a general pediatrician at the Children’s Medical Center in Tifton, Georgia. While in Georgia, she implemented a Reach Out and Read program.

Dr. McCuistion also received a CATCH grant from the Atlanta Falcons for her project, “Overcoming Obesity”. Through this grant, she started a soccer league for a migrant community in Omega, Georgia. In 2010, Dr. McCuistion joined Pacific Coast Pediatrics.

Dr. McCuistion is married and keeps very busy with the activities of her twins who are growing up right before their parent’s eyes. She enjoys volunteering her time for medical missions abroad and she is an active parent volunteer in the schools.

Dr. McCuistion enjoys working with children of all ages and has a particular love for special needs children.

Jerrie Lim, M.D.

Pacific Coast Pediatrics Partner

Jerrie Lim, M.D. received her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She completed her pediatric residency at David Grant Medical Center, after which she served as an Air Force Pediatrician at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, at FE Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, and at Kirkland Air Force Base in New Mexico. After completion of her Air Force commitment, Dr. Lim joined Pacific Coast Pediatrics.

Dr. Lim and her husband have two children. They enjoy the community and beautiful local area. She is committed to, and truly loves taking care of the patients of our practice.

Reid Giedt, M.D.

Pacific Coast Pediatrics Partner

W. Reid Giedt, Jr., M.D. joined forces with Dr. Lewis Cantor (the Pacific Coast Pediatrics founding pediatrician) in 1993 to bring comprehensive pediatric medicine to the community.

Prior to 1983, he attended the University of California at Davis for undergraduate and graduate work and then went on to attend Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, finishing in 1980. He returned to California to complete Pediatrics training at the University of California, San Francisco.

He enjoys working with infants, children and young adults and their parents, AND these same children as they have become parents because their legacies are amazing to behold. In his spare time, Dr. Giedt likes to keep up with the flora and fauna changes where he lives and with his close to home and extended, not so close to home, family. He occasionally rides his bike to and from the office.

A countdown to better health for kids

Need guidance with a healthier lifestyle including dietary concerns and physical activity advice? Our practice works in cooperation with Montage Health, bringing wellness programs to the community.

With obesity affecting 1 in 6 children and adolescents in the United States, the Monterey-Salinas Healthcare Collaborative’s Diabetes Initiative committed to early intervention through a pediatric-wellness coaching program.

A pediatric wellness coach meets with children and teens for fun and engaging lessons about healthy eating and physical activity. The goal is to create lifelong healthy habits to share with the whole family, based on a 5-2-1-0 message:

5 or more fruits and vegetables a day
2 hours or less of “screen time”
1 hour or more of physical activity
0 sugary drinks and more water

The initiative has partnered with Pacific Coast Pediatrics to offer the wellness coach’s services for free to our patients.

A countdown to better health for kids

Nurses

Our nurse, Cathi Ewing, RN and Alicia Prado, LVN (not yet pictured) lead the team of Medical Assistants and also provide important parental advice and provide initial triage in helping parents determine the severity of conditions and when to bring the child to the doctor. Nurse triage service is provided to parents during regular business hours.

Hieu Nguyen, M.D.

Dr. Nguyen received his doctor of medicine degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and completed his residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Lewis Cantor, M.D.

Lewis Cantor, M.D. just fully retired in July 2017. He was the founder of the practice and provided high quality care to many generations of families in the community.

Dr. Cantor continues valuable work with medicine in the community as he is the president of Coastal Kids Home Care which is an organization that provides care in the homes of children who would otherwise have to travel to specialized facilities to receive medical care.

He also continues to work with San Andres Regional Center which is a community-based, private nonprofit providing service to people with developmental disabilities.

James Brennan, M.D.

James Brennan, M.D.
Now resting in peace
7/24/1950 – 4/18/2018

Dr. Brennan was a caring pediatrician for almost 40 years and spent 18 years with Pacific Coast Pediatrics! He was a partner in ownership of Pacific Coast Pediatrics and served several years as the president of the corporation.

Well known in the community, Dr. Brennan cared for his sickest patients at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital. During his personal time Dr. Brennan enjoyed spending time with his family including several grandchildren. Dr. Brennan was an avid sailor and was often out sailing in the Monterey Bay during his days away from the office.

We wish Dr. Brennan, “Fair winds and following seas”.

Walk-in Clinic

The purpose of the walk-in clinic is to provide initial, convenient care to patients with new symptoms or problems, initial onset symptoms (less than 48 hours). The walk-in clinic is for problems which they have not yet seen a provider for care.

Patients are seen in order of arrival time. Parents fill out a triage form in order to be sure that it is appropriate to see the patient during the short time frame of the walk-in clinic. If a patient’s problem is more complex, you may be asked to schedule an appointment.

Not available during our walk-in clinic are other services such as: follow-up visits for simple or chronic care and preventative care or well visits and immunizations. Please call to schedule an appointment for these services.

Our first baby is about to be born. What do we need to know?

Choose a pediatrician – We have open house every other month on Wednesday evenings for expecting parents. Parents can meet a pediatrician and get advice on where to start and what to do after the baby is born.

Line up insurance – Our billing staff is here to help and to offer guidance for parents beginning to navigate the insurance system for children.

Tell the hospital which pediatrician will be caring for your baby as soon as he or she is born.

Bring on the teenagers!

Pacific Coast Pediatrics pediatricians and staff work as an experienced, professional team to provide the highest quality healthcare to children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers.

Online Help and Information

Commonly Asked Questions

What if my child suffers a head injury?

How do I give my child Tylenol and Motrin?

When does my child need antibiotics?

Is my child constipated?

What do I do if I think my child has an ear infection?

What diseases to immunizations prevent?

What immunizations does my child need and when does he or she get them?

What immunizations are required before my child can attend school within California?

Our first baby is about to be born. What do we need to know?

What if my child needs to be hospitalized?

Helpful Links

Vaccine information

Immunizations information for School

International travel and vaccine information

Local parenting education and parenting classes in Salinas

Breastfeeding help for new mothers

Important patient medical forms and documents

Medical Records Release Form

Consent to treat a minor

Patients privacy rights

Patient registration form

Make An Appointment

Phone Calls

Emergencies

Appointments