Your Care Team
Meet our dedicated all-female team of providers, committed to delivering exceptional obstetric and gynecologic care in a warm, supportive environment.
Dr. Lilia M. Pacini, F.A.C.O.G
President & Co-Founder
Dr. Pacini is a board-certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist and is board certified in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. She is originally from Barranquilla, Colombia. She completed her residency at University of Texas in Houston in 2004, and then relocated to Palm Springs. She is passionate about both Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Pacini offers minimally invasive surgery, including procedures with the da Vinci Robot. Dr. Pacini loves the desert area and as one of the practice owners, she is committed to staying in the area. She is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and two daughters. She is very active and enjoys yoga, dancing, hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, traveling, and spending time with her dog, Milo.
Dr. Jolyn Fergon, NP-C, CNM
Co-Founder & Practice Administrator
Dr. Fergon earned her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Duke University and has been a founding member and active practitioner at Advanced Women’s Healthcare since its start in 2003. She received her Nurse Practitioner degree from Harbor UCLA and a Master’s as a Nurse Midwife from Philadelphia University. Originally from Washington State, she has lived in the Coachella Valley since age 15 and is a graduate of Palm Springs High School. Passionate about all aspects of women’s health, she provides both OB and GYN services, including infertility care. She enjoys the outdoors, traveling, reading, and pickleball, but values time with her husband and children above all else.
Dr. Maria Teresa Datan Benitez, F.A.C.O.G.
Dr. Benitez is a board-certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist. She joined our team in December 2013. She enjoys obstetrics and gynecology alike. Dr. Benitez is originally from the Philippines, and graduated from the Cebu Institute of Medicine. She did her first OBGYN residency program in the Philippines and worked as a doctor there for 10 years before coming to the United States. She then completed her second OBGYN residency program at State University of New York at Buffalo. She worked as a physician in Michigan for 5 years before relocating to California to be closer to her family. In her spare time, Dr. Benitez likes to relax at home, spending time with her husband, kids, and 2 dogs. She enjoys baking, doing needle work, and scrapbooking.
Tatiana Shidaki, NP-C
Tatiana Shidaki, NP-C, is a board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner from Oahu, Hawai’i. She earned her BS in Nursing and Biology from Creighton University and her MS in Women’s Health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. A member of Sigma Theta Tau International, she worked in cardiac and labor & delivery nursing at Nebraska Medicine since 2010 before joining our team. Tatiana values building lasting relationships with women through every stage of life. Outside work, she enjoys hiking, traveling, gardening, and visiting family in Hawai’i.
Brittany Robinson NP-C,
Brittany Robinson is a board-certified Women's Health Nurse Practitioner with a strong passion for empowering women through education and compassionate care. She began her career as a Labor and Delivery and Postpartum Registered Nurse, gaining five years of hands-on experience across two different hospital systems. She went on to earn her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati, where she deepened her commitment to advancing women’s health. Known for her approachable and patient-centered style, Brittany strives to ensure every woman feels informed and confident in making her own healthcare decisions. Outside of work, she prioritizes her faith and family, finding joy in everyday adventures with her loved ones and their spirited mini dachshund, Olive.
Asante Fennell, PA-C
Asante is a Board Certified Physician Assistant She was born in Los Angeles, California. She received her bachelor’s in Gender and Womens studies from UC Berkeley and completed her premedical post baccalaureate program at Columbia University. She completed her Physician Assistant program at Marist University in New York. After spending nearly a decade in New York, she decided to move back to Southern California to be closer to family. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, swimming and meditation.
Nicole Mazmanian, MSN, FNP-C
Nicole is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a strong background in women’s health and obstetrics. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with an emphasis in Leadership and Management before completing her Family Nurse Practitioner education at West Coast University.
Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Nicole spent more than 14 years as a Labor & Delivery Registered Nurse at Desert Regional Medical Center and Eisenhower Health. Her extensive experience caring for women throughout labor, delivery, postpartum recovery, and newborn care has provided her with a strong foundation in maternal and newborn health. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships with her patients and supporting women throughout every stage of their pregnancy journey.
In addition to her clinical practice, Nicole serves as adjunct nursing faculty at College of the Desert, where she enjoys educating and mentoring future nurses.
Outside of work, Nicole enjoys maternity and newborn photography, arts and crafts, gardening, and cooking with fresh herbs she grows herself.
Madelyn Lorei, PA-C
Madelyn Lorei, PA-C is a board-certified Physician Assistant dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based women’s healthcare. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Central Missouri before completing her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Stephens College.
Madelyn has dedicated her career to women’s health and is passionate about caring for women through every stage of life. She enjoys providing preventive care, evaluating and treating a wide range of gynecologic conditions, counseling patients on contraception, and helping women navigate hormonal changes from adolescence through menopause. She believes patient education is the foundation of exceptional care and strives to ensure every patient feels informed, supported, and empowered in their healthcare decisions.
Her philosophy of care is centered on compassion, education, and building lasting relationships with her patients. She is committed to creating a welcoming environment where women feel heard, respected, and confident in their treatment plans.
Outside of the office, Madelyn enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants and coffee shops, staying active, caring for her houseplants, and spending time with family, friends, and her cat.
Cristina Valdez, MSN, WHNP-BC
Cristina is a board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of nursing experience and specialized expertise in obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive health. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from California State University, Fullerton, and has served in diverse clinical settings. Cristina is passionate about providing compassionate, evidence-based care, patient education, and multidisciplinary collaboration to support women throughout their reproductive health journey. Cristina also enjoys traveling with her husband and 3 children.
April Balanay, MSN, FNP-C
April Balanay, MSN, FNP-C, is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Before becoming a Nurse Practitioner, April spent more than 11 years as a Labor & Delivery Registered Nurse, caring for women through labor, birth, postpartum recovery, and newborn care. This extensive experience has provided her with a strong clinical foundation in maternal and newborn health.
In addition to her Labor & Delivery background, April has experience as a Nurse Practitioner in wound care and hospice medicine, further strengthening her clinical expertise and commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based care.
Fluent in both English and Tagalog, April enjoys connecting with patients from diverse backgrounds. Outside of work, she enjoys singing, arts and crafts, and spending quality time with her husband and two children.
Teal Michaelis, BSc, RDMS
Ultrasonographer
Teal has been an ultrasonographer with our practice since 2004. She graduated from Seattle University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and completed her clinical internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, both Harvard Medical School affiliates. While in Boston, she trained under Harvard physicians and professors who helped develop many of today’s ultrasound techniques. Skilled in all aspects of ultrasound, Teal specializes in obstetrics, gynecology, high-risk pregnancies, and first-trimester screenings for early chromosomal abnormality detection. She also performs 3D and 4D ultrasounds in the La Quinta office, capturing remarkable “fetal photos” for expecting parents. Her hospital experience includes Desert Regional Medical Center, El Centro Regional Medical Center, and Scripps Memorial Hospital. When not in the valley, she enjoys time with family and friends in San Diego and is an avid golfer as well as a former professional skier and snowboarder.
Megan Valdez, RDMS
Ultrasonographer
Megan joined Advanced Women's Healthcare in 2020. She obtained her degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography from Mt. San Jacinto College and is registered in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Abdomen. Her passion for sonography began almost 10 years ago with the first ultrasound of her daughter Maya. Her appreciation grew when studying ultrasonography with fetal medicine at Desert Regional Medical Center which led her to specialize in OB/GYN. Megan's compassion and dedication to her patients, as well as her extensive background in all aspects of ultrasound make her an outstanding asset to Advanced Women's Healthcare. She was born in Northern California, but has been a Coachella Valley resident for many years. When Megan is not at work she is spending her time with her husband and kids. She enjoys hiking and being outdoors, oil painting, cooking, and live music.
Valeria Sifuentes
Office Manager
Valeria was born in Los Angeles, California and was raised in Venezuela and Ecuador. She returned to California in 1986 and settled in the Coachella Valley. She worked as a Patient Care Coordinator in the Cosmetic Surgery industry for over 8 years and transitioned to women’s health in 2016. She volunteers in the community on a regular basis along with her husband, two sons, and daughter. She enjoys traveling with her family, dancing, and reading in her leisure time. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, and is always available for patient feedback and to address any patient questions and concerns that you may have.
Raena Stephenson
HR/Credentialing Supervisor
Originally from northern California, Raena relocated to the desert in 1997. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Child Development from California State University, San Bernardino. Raena was a part-time faculty member with the CSUSB Psychology department at both the main campus and Palm Desert campus until she joined Advanced Women’s Healthcare in 2012. She is the head of Human Resources, IT, and Provider Credentialing. When not working, Raena can be found spending time with her husband and daughter, at the gym, or walking her Bullmastiff, Castle.
