ABOUT US
Hi! I’m Dr. Emily Nava, founder of Cradle Collective. The concept of Cradle Collective was born in 2016 when I first became a mother…I just didn’t quite know it at the time. As a new mom, I really felt like that storied “village” was missing - especially in terms of navigating the world of breastfeeding challenges, tongue tie, and reflux. Now I’m a mother of three, and through each birth and loss I have gravitated more and more toward supporting families in the ways that I wanted to be supported in those early days.
At Cradle Collective, we pride ourselves in the way that we nurture babies, children, and parents in a holistic, family-centered approach to help everyone grow and thrive.
Meet the Team
-
Dr. Emily nava, PT, DPT, MBA
OWNER - PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Movement has always been part of Dr. Emily’s life. She graduated summa cum laude from University of Cincinnati with a major in Ballet and minor in Psychology. She danced professionally before attending University of Arizona to earn a MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management. She attended Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, CA to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Dr. Emily was drawn to physical therapy for the opportunity to work with dancers to support injury prevention and rehabilitation. However, over the course of her doctoral program, the kiddos of the pediatric world just stole her heart. Over the past 8 years, Dr. Emily has worked in a variety of settings including hospital and clinic-based outpatient centers, acute care, and home health. She is a lifelong learner and has completed over 150 hours of post-doctoral education to help better serve the population that she is so passionate about.
-
Carrie Nicol, OTR/L
PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
With over 10 years of experience, Carrie brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the families she serves in Peoria, Glendale, and Phoenix, offering in-home therapy tailored to each child's unique needs.
Carrie's specialty areas include:
Sensory Integration Therapy | Feeding Therapy | Fine Motor Skill Development
She has extensive experience working with children diagnosed with:
Autism Spectrum Disorder | Sensory Processing Disorder | ADHD | Developmental Delays | Feeding Difficulties
Outside of her professional life, Carrie is a devoted mother of three active children, ages 7, 4, and 3. She enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it's in the mountains of Colorado or by the beach, and stays busy with her family's activities, including swimming, gymnastics, soccer, and church.
-
Jessica Cole, OTR/L
PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Jessica is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist who joined our team with a Master’s degree from the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, NE, earned in 2013. Since then, she has dedicated her career to helping children overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.
With a focus on pediatric care, her specialty areas include:
Feeding Therapy, including Infant Feeding
Complex Infants
Genetic and Developmental Delays
Neurodevelopmental Therapy
Cerebral Palsy
Brachial Plexus Injuries
Jessica has significant experience in a high-risk infant follow-up clinic and a multidisciplinary feeding clinic, where she collaborates with other professionals to provide comprehensive care for infants and children with complex needs.
Outside of work, Jessica enjoys exploring the great outdoors through hiking and traveling with her husband and their dog. She is also an avid photographer, capturing the beauty of her adventures and everyday moments through Frameabilities Photography.
-
Dr. Anna Fern-Buneo, PT, DPT, MA, PCS
PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Dr. Anna joins us with extensive knowledge in the world of pediatric physical therapy. She is a Board-Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist with over 30 years of clinical experience. Having worked at three different children's hospitals around the country, as well as Arizona Early Intervention (AzEIP), Dr. Anna has vast experience across the pediatric continuum of care.
She is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor and the Director of Clinical Education in the physical therapy program at Northern Arizona University - Phoenix where she teaches the pediatric curriculum. She serves on the board of the AZPTA Pediatric Special Interest Group and teaches yoga every summer at Camp Patrick, a medically supported camp for children with spina bifida.
Dr. Anna has significant experience and interest in working with the following populations:
High-risk infants / NICU grads
Children with medical complexity
Torticollis / plagiocephaly
Developmental delays
Spina bifida
Cerebral palsy
Dr. Anna is a proud New Yorker. She enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 children. She also loves musicals and the performing arts.
OUR APPROACH
EVALUATE
Did you know that in Arizona, you don’t need a referral to utilize physical or occupational therapy services? Whether your pediatrician has made the recommendation or if you just have that gut feeling that you’d like your child to be seen, we are here for you! An evaluation is a one hour session where the therapist gets to know you and your child. What we are doing will look a lot like play, but we are assessing your child’s skills and development.
TREAT
Treatment sessions are also one hour long. Therapeutic play and positioning, as well as gentle manual work, may be used to help your child improve skills. If baby gets sleepy or hungry during the session, that is also okay! We can still use that time to work.
EDUCATE
As a parent, you are your child’s best advocate and teacher. Throughout the session, the therapist will provide recommendations for activities that you can do with your child between therapy sessions in order to help them continue to grow and thrive.