Steven Abelowitz MD, FAAP
As the Founder and Medical Director of Ocean Pediatrics, Dr. Abelowitz continues to be a leader in the field of pediatric medicine. He has been treating children in the Orange County area for over 29 years and has received the Orange County Medical Association’s Top Doctor Award for Physicians of Excellence multiple times.
He received his medical degree at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, graduating at the top of his class, and completed his pediatric residency at the University of California Irvine Medical Center, where he was named Resident of the Year. Dr. Abelowitz is a fluent speaker of English, Hebrew and Afrikaans. He is also a proud husband and the father of three children.
Dennis Phillips MD, FAAP
Dr. Dennis Phillips is a renowned pediatrician in Laguna Hills with more than 35 years of experience in the medical field. He received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his medical degree from the University of Southern California School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center as the Chief Resident. Dr. Phillips is a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatrics, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Throughout his career, he has also received several distinguished honors and appointments.
A renowned authority on pediatrics, Dr. Phillips served for seven years as the Governor’s Appointee to the State of California Maternal, Adolescent, and Child Health Advisory Board. He has written extensively for Medicine.Net on multiple issues from strep throat, the common cold, to an extensive review on ADHD recognition and management. He has served as the Chief of Pediatrics at every hospital with which he has been actively associated. He is also proficient in medical Spanish.
Dr. Phillips cares deeply about both physical and psychological health. He prefers scrubs over a white coat, and enters the exam room singing or humming quietly. He is well known for his approachable demeanor, gentle humor, and for empowering kids from a young age. As a result, many of his patients wish to see him through adulthood — and some still do!
Dr. Phillips is also an adoring husband, the father of seven children, and the grandfather to six little ones and counting! When he is not working, you can find him boxing, singing in the choir, umpiring baseball, playing with his grandkids and cooking for his wife.
Kristina Nylander, MD FAAP
Dr. Nylander grew up locally in Laguna Hills and has been a highly experienced and beloved pediatrician in South Orange County for over 20 years.
After receiving her undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, she moved to Portland, Oregon where she worked in medical research. Dr. Nylander then attended medical school at Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine before moving back to Southern California for her residency in pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Upon completion of her residency, she was the recipient of both the Pediatric Primary Care Award and the Golden Apple Teaching Award.
Dr. Nylander is a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is also a UCLA-certified lactation educator and has special interests in infant and child development and breastfeeding support. Dr. Nylander is often recognized for her calm and caring demeanor, and she especially enjoys building long-lasting relationships with patients’ and their families.
Dr. Nylander lives with her husband, their two teenagers, and two dogs. In her free time, you will find her spending time at home with her family, taking walks or swimming.
Jennifer Maccio CPNP-PC
Jennifer is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner for primary care, with more than seven years of experience as a registered nurse and more than 11 years as a pediatric nurse practitioner. She has experience working on medical/surgical units, hematology, oncology, NICU and PICU.
After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Auburn in Montgomery, Alabama, she received her master’s degree in nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Jennifer has worked at Personal Care Pediatrics and Children’s Medical Center in south Florida and was also a registered nurse at Joe DiMaggio Children’s hospital in Hollywood, Florida.
When she is not busy making pediatric care more fun, you can find Jennifer traveling, reading, practicing yoga, and enjoying the gorgeous California beaches. Of course, there is nothing she loves more than spending as much time as possible with her husband and daughter!
Nina Fife FNP-BC
Nina (Kristina) Fife is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with extensive experience providing care and mentorship for children in Orange County.
Originally from Utah, Nina had the opportunity to travel the world with the “BYU Young Ambassadors” before earning her bachelor’s degree in exercise and wellness from Brigham Young University. Nina also devoted 18 months to serving a mission for her church in Busan, South Korea, where she became fluent in Korean.
She later received a second bachelor’s degree in nursing, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Utah, where she was honored to be a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Theta Tau, the nursing honors society. For her capstone project, she focused on the NICU and spent the summer in Ghana, Africa, participating in a global health study abroad program.
Nina relocated to Orange County in 2013 and graduated top of her class with a master’s in nursing from the University of Southern California. Today, Nina volunteers in her community by teaching music to children and mentoring teenagers. In her free time, you can find Nina skiing, playing tennis, practicing yoga, and spending time with her husband and three little girls.
