Expert Pediatric Neurology Care—Close To Home

For parents in Contra Costa County and surrounding communities, having a child with a complex medical condition used to mean spending lots of time traveling all over the Bay Area for visits with children’s specialists. 

Through our collaboration with Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, we diagnose and treat the full range of neurological conditions in children of all ages—right here, close to home.    

In addition to your pediatric neurologist, your child’s care team may also include nurses and other healthcare providers—all who have advanced training in specifically treating children and teens.  

Meet Your Doctors

candida brown

Candida Brown, MD

Pediatric Neurology

I'm able to connect with families in a way that shows compassion and empathy while getting them through what can be very difficult situations. It's really important to have patients feel very comfortable. For example, we don't wear white coats. We make the environment as relaxing as possible. I want patients to feel good about their experience, and my calm demeanor hopefully helps them feel relaxed and at ease.

If there's one thing I want families to know it's that I truly care about their experience. From the very beginning when they are referred to our office, to their first visit, to phone calls being answered in a timely fashion all parts of providing excellent health care are important to me. I want families to have the best experience every step of the way. 

jonathan heckt

Rujul Desai, MD

Pediatric Neurology

The children and parents I work with feel like family to me. Their concerns are my concerns; when I am with a family, I listen carefully and focus 100% of my energy on them. In fact, even when I am not in the office, I am thinking about solutions to help them. I think that is why I have such great connections with the families I work with, even after they leave my care. I try my best to help each child I see live life to their fullest potential, and that is the greatest reward.

jonathan heckt

Jonathan Hecht, MD, PhD

Pediatric Neurology

For many families, dealing with neurological conditions can be scary. I'm sensitive to those fears, but also optimistic about treatment. I want parents to know there's so much we can do, and I provide hope and confidence. Even in the most difficult situations, there's always something we can do to help.

I help families learn to care for their child, because neurological conditions can be difficult to deal with. I want parents to feel confident leaving my office, knowing they have my support every step of the way. I want families to know I'm their partner; we work together as a team. I want them to feel like participants in health care, not just consumers. It's a partnership between all of us.

sheila jenkins

Sheila Jenkins, MD

Pediatric Neurology

As a pediatric neurologist, I have the privilege of partnering with families to help their children reach their full potential. Delivering quality care begins with understanding and empathy. In addition to my 20+ years of ongoing training in academic health systems, I have learned so much personally from my patients and families, not to mention my own three children.

I am here to support my patients so their lives may be as wonderful as possible, regardless of the situation. I strive to make every child's visit to my office a fun experience, engaging and empowering them in the process. They can express themselves, and those expressions are felt and heard. I love seeing my patients learn, grow, and thrive.

jmh stanford

What Our Partnership With Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Means For Your Family

Your pediatrician referred you to us, and we want you to know that you’re in good hands. Our collaboration marries the best of two worlds for our patients and their families by bringing Stanford Medicine Children's Health expertise and innovation into a community-based setting that keeps families close to home. Together, our partnership provides:

  • Expert Care from Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Doctors: From office visits to hospital procedures and stays at our Walnut Creek Medical Center, you can rest easy knowing that your child will be cared for by some of the nation’s top pediatric specialists—without having to travel to outside of the East Bay.
  • Comprehensive Care, Conveniently Close: Any hospital-based services your child may need—ranging from simple blood work and imaging to infusion therapies—can all be conveniently done at our Walnut Creek Medical Center by staff who are highly trained in treating children of all ages, using specialized equipment designed just for children. 
  • Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU): If your child requires complex care, you’ll have the added peace of mind that our PICU—staffed 24/7 by Stanford Medicine Children’s Health doctors and John Muir Health nurses and other care providers—is right here at our Walnut Creek Medical Center. Learn more about our PICU.

Learn more about Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and our partnership.