Dr. Axelrod’s love for the outdoors is what brought her to the area and to Carson Medical Group’s Pediatric team. She enjoys that there is so much to do around Northern Nevada and hopes to gain a few new hobbies while exploring all that the area has to offer. When she and her husband aren’t hiking or biking, you can find them kayaking Lake Tahoe as much as possible, or rock climbing together. Dr. Axelrod has always been very active; she was a competitive gymnast, and played rugby in high school and college.
She is also passionate about her patients. When you ask her what she wants for her patients, her reply is; “I would love to teach kids to be comfortable in their own skin and grow into the best versions of themselves they possibly can while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.” She also wants to express to the parents of her patients to enjoy every day with their kid(s) no matter the age.
“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
- A.A. Milne/Christopher Robins
Jenny Cole is a nurse practitioner who specializes in Pediatric Neurology. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 2009. With over thirty years of nursing experience and fourteen specializing in neurology, she is passionate about helping children and their families achieve the best possible quality of life. Jenny treats a wide variety of neurologic and developmental conditions in infants, children, and adolescents. These include Migraine, Headache Disorders, Concussions, Tourette’s, Cerebral Palsy, Neuromuscular dysfunction, and Syncope.
Originally from California, Jenny moved to Nevada in 2002 and quickly fell in love with the area's beautiful hiking and walking trails. Here, she met her husband and raised their three children, whom she considers her greatest achievement. Her love for her family inspires her to deliver exceptional care to her young patients, helping them manage their conditions in a way that suits their lifestyle. She strives to empower them to make choices that are positive and beneficial to their physical and mental health, teaching them vital skills that they will carry with them throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Through her nurturing approach, she not only supports her patients’ health but also inspires a lifelong commitment to wellness.
Brittany Downing, MD, graduated from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and completed her pediatric residency program at The University of Arizona in Tucson.
Dr. Downing and her family chose the Northern Nevada area for all of the outdoor activities available in its backyard. In addition, she appreciates how friendly the people in the community are. She and her husband are looking forward to raising their family here.
Dr. Downing strives to positively impact the children of this community by helping her patients at all the stages of their growth and helping them be the healthiest and happiest they can be.
She and her husband enjoy skiing, camping, hiking, kayaking, and fishing with their dogs. When she finds a quiet moment, she also enjoys yoga, gardening, painting, drawing, and playing the piano.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt.
Carson Medical Group in Carson City, Nevada, is proud to have Dr. Brian Hall on staff in our Pediatrics Department. Dr. Hall specializes in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD sometimes referred to as simply ADD) and childhood asthma. Being a father of twins, Dr. Hall understands the importance of effective patient/physician interaction, balancing information without overloading the parents and developing the best treatment options available. He listens to concerns and views communication as an often overlooked component in quality health care.
Dr. Hall’s passion is helping children receive adequate health care, especially under privileged children. He dedicates personal time to Friends In Service Helping Ross Clinic (FISH) and has volunteered on several medical missions to Mexico. Additionally, Dr. Hall volunteers and serves on his board at church.
Derek Mora, MD, graduated from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and completed his residency at the University of Texas Dell Medical School. He and his family fell in love with beautiful Northern Nevada, the abundance of outdoor activities, and, most importantly, the people in the community.
Dr. Mora comes from humble beginnings, and he has always been rich with love for and from his family. He understands that building strong relationships isn’t just essential for families, but it is just as important for physicians and their patients. His approachable style and warm nature are apparent inside and outside the office.
Dr. Mora has received numerous awards for his medical achievements and his ability to work with his patients and fellow staff with kindness and compassion.
Dr. Mora enjoys baseball, barbequing, and any activity he can spend with his wife and where his kids can join.
Accolades
The Greg Krause Golden Bow Tie Award 2022
Resident of the Year (2020 and 2021)
United Health Group Award of Excellence
A true Nevadan, Dr. Papez was born and raised in Gardnerville and with her entire family within a few miles, she can't imagine living anywhere else. She loves everything Northern Nevada has to offer. With the great weather in each season, there are so many outdoor activities to choose from. I especially love to spend time with my family hiking, golfing and at the beach.
Dr. Papez attended college at University of Nevada, Reno and continued all the way through medical school graduating in 2007. It seems that her future was waiting for her as she found her career as well as her husband at UNR. Spending 3 years in St. Louis for her residency, she returned in 2010 and resumed her life in the high desert of Nevada. Now, 14 years married and with 3 young children, Rebecca is one of Carson Medical Group’s best additions to the Pediatric department for the past 7 years.
“I love working with children. From birth until adolescence, children are amazing beings that make the world a better place. Their love of life, their enthusiasm, their energy and their honesty is so inspiring”, Dr. Papez explains when asked what she loves most about her job. She would like to impact upon her patients the importance of building a healthy foundation and living active lives on behalf of their entire family.
Dr. Jenny Smokey grew up in Dresslerville on the Washoe Reservation in Gardnerville Nevada, and is a member of the Washoe Tribe. Family is very important to her and she has a large family who still calls this area home that she gets to see often. In her free time, she enjoys the beauty of Lake Tahoe, running, camping, watching her husband compete in team roping, or going to a number of sporting events that her three children as well as her nieces and nephews participate in. Dr. Smokey loves being active in the community and enjoys that her children are in school and sports with so many of her own patients.
She knew that she wanted to become a doctor after experiencing the loss of her father from heart surgery. “I was 15 at the time, heartbroken, and wanted to turn that experience into something positive.” Dr. Smokey is passionate about serving the needs of all children regardless of their background. She wants to make sure that she has a close relationship with not only the patient but also the parents. Her hope is that when they see her, they realize they are good parents, even if they are not perfect! “I hope that I empower parents and give them confidence that they can do this, and I am always here to help them with their parenting journey and any questions or concerns that they have. I myself have three kids, and I don’t judge!”
We are pleased to welcome Elizabeth Turnbeaugh to Carson Medical Group’s Pediatric department. Elizabeth was born, raised and schooled in Northern Nevada. She is most fond of the four seasons and the various outdoor sports easily accessible here in the high desert including downhill skiing, mountain biking and exploring the Sierras.
Elizabeth comes to us with a plethora of health experience. From oncology to skilled nursing, Elizabeth has plenty of experience to pull from. Being a mother of two young children, it was only natural for her to find her calling in Pediatrics, where she can offer first-hand support and knowledge to the parents of her youngest patients. And, with an ability to communicate in Spanish, Elizabeth can discuss raising healthier children with our ESL patients.
Elizabeth wants to emphasize to her patients that a healthy diet and exercise are the key to a balanced lifestyle. In this age of extreme technology, she readily reminds her tween and teen patients to limit their screen time on their phones, tvs and other devices and to increase their activity levels. The simple advice of “get more fresh air” goes a long way with her patients that are juggling busy school schedules.
Areas of Specialty
APRN-C for Family
Accolades
Awarded Wiche Scholarship to apply towards nursing school.
Northern Nevada Nurse Achievement Award
Dr. Rita Wang attended college at the University of California Los Angeles. She completed her medical degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas, and her residency program at the University of California, Irvine.
As a current faculty member for the University of Nevada Reno, she enjoys teaching medical students, passing along her knowledge and experience to the next generation of physicians. Dr. Wang is also a clinical instructor of Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Pediatric Emergency Assessment Recognition and Stabilization.
Dr. Wang enjoys teaching her pediatric patients how to stay healthy and to feel good about themselves. She wants all of her patients to know that they are each individually important and to have the feeling of self-worth. One of her core values is to respect families and those around her. She believes in being positive and helping others be positive.
One of the many reasons she moved here was her love of snow sports, backpacking, hiking, and camping. She and her husband enjoy discovering the outdoors with their two children. Dr. Wang appreciates the community support and small-town feel of the area.
