Dr. Renee F. Modica

Akaluck Thatayatikom is a Pediatric Rheumatologist practicing medicine in Orlando, Florida. His clinical expertise encompasses Arthritis, Delayed Growth, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), and PFAPA. Dr. Thatayatikom is currently accepting new patients.

Kathleen M. Vazzana, DO, MSc, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatric rheumatologist at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. She evaluates and treats children with rheumatic diseases, which are chronic autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions affecting growth, development and quality of life. Care for Rheumatic Diseases Dr. Vazzana is dedicated to caring for children with chronic and life-threating rheumatic diseases such as Kawasaki disease, scleroderma, systematic lupus and more. These conditions involve joints, muscles, bones and connective tissue causing pain, swelling, stiffness and deformity. They also may impact other organs and systems in the body, requiring collaboration with other specialists. To determine a child's specific rheumatic disease, Dr. Vazzana performs any number of diagnostic and monitoring procedures, including: Imaging studies Joint aspiration Laboratory studies Respiratory function Skin or muscle biopsy Dr. Vazzana's Training Dr. Vazzana attended the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she earned her doctor of osteopathic medicine and a master's degree in neuromusculoskeletal sciences, graduating with distinction. She then completed a residency in pediatrics at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, followed by a fellowship in pediatric rheumatology at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and a clinical fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. About Dr. Vazzana In addition to certification by the American Board of Pediatrics, Dr. Vazzana is active in her profession as a member of the American College of Rheumatology, Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance, and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Throughout her education and career, she has volunteered time as a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Arthritis Foundation and Team for Kids. Her clinical expertise encompasses Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Juvenile Dermatomyositis, and Lupus Nephritis.

Monica Friedman, DO, is a pediatric rheumatologist and the chief of pediatric rheumatology at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Dr. Friedman earned her medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She then completed her pediatric residency at University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville. From there, she continued her training in New Hyde Park, New York completing a pediatric rheumatology fellowship at Cohen Children’s Medical Center/North Shore LIJ.After completing her training, she accepted a position as assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine and worked as a pediatric rheumatologist at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. She has co-published articles involving complicated rheumatologic disorders and edited the chapter on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Rudolph’s Pediatrics Textbook.Although medication is the mainstay therapy for rheumatologic diseases, Dr. Friedman has incorporated complementary therapies into her practice to provide an integrative approach to treatment. She has given lectures on the topic of complementary therapies in the juvenile idiopathic arthritis patient and looks forward to continuing to merge Eastern and Western medicine into her practice at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer. Her clinical expertise encompasses Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Dr. Friedman is board certified in American Board Of Pediatrics and American Board Of Pediatrics - Rheumatology.