Team

Kary Rappaport

Senior Feeding + Swallowing Specialist (OTR/L, MS, SCFES, IBCLC)

A mom of two, Kary specializes in family mealtime dynamics and eating issues across the spectrum, from breast and bottle feeding challenges and picky eating, to dysphagia, tube feeding, and complex food refusal. Kary has extensive, wide-ranging work experience from outpatient therapy, to pediatric acute care in a high acuity NICU, to in-home settings and Well Child visits, all supporting families and children with eating and swallowing. Kary has worked with thousands of infants and children as they learn to eat, and she has taught parents and medical professionals on this topic for nearly two decades.

Kim Grenawitzke

Senior Feeding + Swallowing Specialist (OTD, OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC, CNT)

Specializing in infant and child feeding, eating, and swallowing, Kim has spent the majority of her career in pediatric acute care at some of the largest children's hospitals on the west coast, focusing specifically on neonatal (NICU) feeding and swallowing, breastfeeding with high-risk infants, and infant/pediatric cardiac rehabilitation. In addition to her hospital-based work, Kim has worked with families struggling with breastfeeding, transitioning to solids, selective/picky eating, tube weaning, and oral motor/chewing. Kim is a mom of two in Michigan.

Dr. Rachel Ruiz

Pediatrician + Gastroenterologist (MD, FAAP, CLC)

Dr. Ruiz is a mom of three, a board-certified general pediatrician, and a pediatric gastroenterologist. She completed her undergraduate at Dartmouth College, doctorate of medicine and pediatrics residency at Vanderbilt University, and pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at Stanford University. Dr. Ruiz is an attending pediatric gastroenterologist at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and an affiliated clinical instructor of pediatric gastroenterology at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. She treats a wide range of children suffering from constipation, abdominal pain, swallowing difficulties, inadequate weight gain, inflammatory bowel disease, fatty liver and other liver diseases, and Celiac disease. In her part-time position at Solid Starts, Dr. Ruiz reviews content for evidence-based accuracy, analyzes choking data and trends, and is a trainer for Solid Starts PRO®.

Dr. Sakina Shikari Bajowala

Pediatrician + Allergist & Immunologist (MD, FAAAAI)

Dr. Bajowala is a mother of two and a board-certified adult and pediatric allergist and immunologist with a passion for patient education and advocacy. She specializes in the evaluation and management of food allergy, and is a best-selling author on the topic. In her private allergy practice, she helps her young patients overcome food allergies through precision-focused sublingual and oral immunotherapy. In her part-time position at Solid Starts, Dr. Bajowala reviews content for evidence-based accuracy, analyzes allergy data and trends, and is a trainer for Solid Starts PRO®.

Venus Kalami

Pediatric Dietitian + Nutritionist (MNSP, RD, CSP)

Inspired by her mother’s work serving nutritionally vulnerable mothers and infants, Venus is dedicated to bridging nutritional inequities in her work. As a pediatric dietitian in gastroenterology, she works with children with celiac and inflammatory bowel diseases, food allergies, picky eating, and more, while exploring research and program development. Venus completed her Registered Dietitian training at Stanford Medicine and her Masters in Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Off the clock, she practices her polyglot skills, sings jazz, and subjects her husband to unconventional culinary creations.

Marisa Suarez

Occupational Therapist/Feeding Therapist (MS, OTR/L, SWC, CLEC)

As an occupational therapist, Marisa holds advanced certification in feeding, eating, and swallowing, and is also a certified lactation education counselor. With a background in psychiatry and behavioral management, she is passionate about addressing the anxiety commonly felt with feeding—from postpartum breast- and bottle-feeding to complex family mealtime dynamics and caregiver support. Marisa is a mom of three, including twins and enjoys cooking family meals with her dietitian husband, Josh.

Alexia Derma Salazar

Speech-Language Pathologist (MS, CCC-SLP/L)

Alexia is a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist with a special interest in feeding and swallowing. She has experience in outpatient, school, and home health settings, but strongly believes a healthy and happy relationship with food is developed at home with small, daily steps. As the lead for Solid Starts Español, Alexia ensures all materials are translated into Spanish and made accessible to Spanish-speaking communities.

Jenna Longbottom

Speech-Language Pathologist + Scientific Affairs Consultant

Jenna is a pediatric feeding and swallowing expert with experience at some of the largest children's hospitals in the United States. Since 2015, she has specialized in working with infants and children with complex cardiac anatomy and aerodigestive needs. Jenna loves to mentor fellow professionals and assist families in reaching their feeding goals.

Jenny Best

Founder

Jenny is a mom of three on a quest to help families find joy at the table. Passionate about food and farming, Jenny founded Solid Starts to make it easier for parents to learn how to introduce any food to their baby. Jenny is the creator of the award-winning First Foods® database and the Solid Starts App.