JULIE MCFARLAND

Clinical Manager, RN, BSN, MS

Julie brings to The Menkes Clinic more than 3 decades of extensive and diverse experience in the medical field. Julie’s latest job was at El Camino Hospital where she enjoyed working in critical care and most recently the post anesthesia care unit. She holds a national certification in perianesthesia care—a perfect fit for running and maintaining national certification of the Menkes Surgery Center. Julie credits her years of volunteering with giving her the understanding of teamwork. Her biggest adjustment has been going from being the expert in post anesthesia care to the generalist at The Menkes Clinic. She feels that having obtained a masters in an emergency administration has prepared her well for the role of wearing many different hats at The Menkes Clinic.

Julie is passionate about customer service and finds it personally rewarding to make every patient's experience the best possible. She's excited about the opportunity to be at The Menkes Clinic where "all of my coworkers are just as passionate about teamwork and great customer care".

SYLVIA ROBBINS

Registered Nurse

A decade of laser experience and advanced certifications in laser technology makes Sylvia an expert in treating all skin types for laser hair removal and skin rejuvenation.

Sylvia has an instinctive nurturing personality that makes aesthetic and surgical nursing a natural career focus. Compassionate and detail oriented, she will personalize your treatments to fit your needs, delivering the highest quality of care.

In her free time, Sylvia enjoys gardening and traveling with her family.

MARY ROZELLE

Physician Assistant

Mary Rozelle is a nationally certified physician assistant, a fellow member of the California Academy of Physician Assistants, and a Diplomate member of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants, that is a recognized distinction with the American Academy of Dermatology. She excitedly joins The Menkes Clinic, after over four years working in the Stanford Dermatologic Surgery Clinic.

Mary was born in Taiwan, and grew up in Tehran, Iran and Dallas, Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics from Texas A&M University, and a Master of Science degree in Genetics from the University of Minnesota. Her thesis project was on the genetics of alopecia.

Subsequently, she graduated from the Physician Assistant program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and then went on to earn a Master’s degree in Physician Assistant studies from the University of Nebraska, where her research paper was about squamous and basal cell skin cancers and surgical options.

Mary brings to The Menkes Clinic her long-term passion for dermatology, as well as her enthusiasm for efficient, patient-centered care. Outside of clinical obligations, she adores spending quality time with her little daughter and husband; lap swimming; and hiking.

AVISHA MAHARAJ

Aesthetician

Avisha is an accomplished licensed Aesthetician since 1997. She owned her own spa on the beautiful, tropical Caribbean Island of Trinidad called Avisha’s Spa. To further her studies, she also holds a certificate in Ayurvedic Body Therapies from the California College of Ayurveda.

In 2007, Avisha happily married and relocated to Silicon Valley.

Her compassionate nature and continual guidance is the key to successful treatments. She is dedicated to enhancing your natural beauty and she looks forward to serving you at the Menkes Clinic.

KAREN KEITH

Patient Care Coordinator

Karen applies more than seven years of extensive and diverse experience in the field of cosmetic/aesthetic dermatology to her work at The Menkes Clinic. Forming working partnerships with patients to help them make wise and informed decisions about their skin care needs drives a major part of that work.

From the initial consultation, through the actual procedure and post-treatment checkups, she stays with patients to ensure their goals are met. This close working relationship helps them remain informed about their options and alleviates the apprehension that sometimes accompanies cosmetic treatment.

It all begins with the complimentary consultation she offers and results in a personalized skin-rejuvenation program tailored to each individual's requirements. The information and care Karen provides builds the patient's trust and comfort level which is so essential before any procedure. She is truly a valuable asset to the clinic's mission.

When not immersed in home improvement projects, she enjoys hiking, sailing, rollerblading and gardening.

TARA DICAIRANO

Medical Assistant

Tara brings 15 years of experience working in medical clinics to her job at The Menkes Clinc. A talented person, she functions in a number of areas; in the front as office receptionist, in the back office as a medical assistant with dermatology patients and in the Operating Room as an OR Tech where she assists Dr. Menkes in performing cosmetic procedures. She is also a Moh’s Tech and assists Dr. Menkes with Moh's surgical procedures.

Tara appreciates the collaborative approach and teamwork environment that Dr. Menkes has built with his staff. She is passionate about being a member of the team and believes that our patients have a positive experience when they are the recipients of the caring and helpful attitude displayed by the staff.

In her free time, Tara loves spending time with her husband and 3 children.

LUCIENE DA SILVA HOWARD

Medical Assistant

The combination of Lucy's medical knowledge and her organizational skills makes her a valuable Menkes Clinic player. She spends many of her off hours delighting in the unique music of her native Brazil.

JENNIFER HAGEN

Medical Assistant

New to the staff, Jennifer has over 4 years experience in medical assisting. She attended Kaplan College in 2007 and received her registered medical assisting license in 2008. She is a dedicated worker and shows geniune care and compassion for the patients that she cares for. She and her family recently moved to California from San Antonio, Texas.

MEREDITH MASRI

Medical Assistant

Meredith joined the Menkes Clinic team in 2009. She brought with her to the clinic several years of experience in dermatology and a particular interest in the field. In addition to her experience in dermatology, Meredith has also worked in the fields of emergency medicine, women's health, primary care and pediatrics. A Bachelor's degree in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior from UC Davis prepared her well for her work in the medical field.

Outside of her work caring for patients, Meredith enjoys reading, travelling, and playing outdoors with her children.

ESPIE LADISLA

Medical Assistant

Espie recently joined The Menkes Clinic as a nationally certified medical assistant. Her compassion and caring qualities made her choose to switch her career from accounting and finance to something more personally rewarding. She loves to travel and learn the different culture and people's way of life. A native of the the Philippines, she can speak tagalog fluently.

KENDEL BROWNING

Business Manager

In one sense, Kendel is the face of The Menkes Clinic since she is often the first person patients see as they arrive. She helps set the tone of the clinic by ensuring that when they walk through the door they discover a positive, helpful and personable environment.

The office management and supervisory positions Kendal has held in a wide range of medical operations, including a medical group of 40 physicians, a single physician dermatology practice and a large cosmetic dermatology medical center, have all prepared her to handle her current important duties.

The hectic business of running a busy clinic front office requires the ability to orchestrate the flow of patients in an orderly and calm manner. With the help of a great team, Kendal applies her effective formula.

At home, she relaxes by playing with her three dogs, watching movies or listening to music.

CHRISTINE VALLEJO

Medical Billing Specialist

With nearly 10 years experience in customer service related fields, Christine knows what it takes to provide the quality care and service clients have come to expect from The Menkes Clinic. She’s worked in the medical field for four years now, as a medical assistant and medical receptionist and has greatly enjoyed all aspects of the industry. Prior to working in dermatology, Christine worked in pediatrics. Christine became part of the Menkes team in 2007 and has since become a Medical Billing Specialist. During the day, Christine is often helping patients with billing dilemmas, working with insurance companies to resolve patient questions and issues, and making sure all accounts are in order. When she’s not at work, Christine enjoys spending time with her husband and their daughter, and experiencing their life unfold as a family. She also enjoys taking pictures, traveling and scrapbooking. Life isn't about the facts or numbers on paper for Christine. It's about the relationships and the memories we build to make every day one worth living.

CAROLYN RIVARD

Medical Records Technician

It would be impossible for Carolyn to carry out her responsibilities without great organizational skills and an impeccable attention to detail. A career that spans twenty years has provided her with the invaluable experience and abilities to manage her critical medical record keeping duties at The Menkes Clinic. Away from the office, she takes great pleasure in cooking and embroidery.

JENNIFER HARTMAN-KOK

Medical Billing Specialist

Jennifer's 10 years experience in the medical industry has perfected her organizational skills in the billing department. She expertly helps patients tackle their complicated questions and resolves problems efficiently. When she's not attending San Jose State University, she enjoys word searches, trying new restaurants, and being surrounded by people that make her laugh.

MONICA SANCHEZ

Front Office Receptionist

Monica joyfully joined The Menkes Clinic in 2009 as part of the team at the front desk. She has over 10 years of customer service experience, five of those years in the medical field working for a large medical organization in an office with over 15 physicians. She received her AA in Real Estate from Foothill College, and after working in that field for a short period decided the medical field was more personally rewarding. She enjoys learning about new skin care products and trying them so she can share her own experience with patients. She is fluent in Spanish and her interests include family functions, and visiting her family in Mexico.

RACHEL FREIER-MILLER

Front Office Receptionist

Rachel recently joined the Menkes family as a medical receptionist. She enjoys working at the front desk answering phone calls, interacting with patients, and scheduling appointments. She continually learns from her co-workers and hopes this job can widen her understanding of the business and art behind the practice of medicine, as she hopes to attend medical school in the future. She received her BA from the University of California at Berkeley in the Practice of Art. She is originally from Palo Alto and currently lives in Mountain View.

Rachel enjoys making art, running, taking walks, and spending time with family and friends. She looks forward to helping you when you come into the office.