Napa Valley Pediatrics Team
Melissa Winkelhaus, FNP
Hello! I am Melissa Winkelhaus. I was born and raised in Napa, I earned my nursing degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and completed my Family Nurse Practitioner education at Sonoma State University. I have spent most of my nursing career caring for babies in the NICU, and I continue to work in the NICU at Queen of the Valley.
My experience in the NICU has given me a deep appreciation for the unique needs of children and the importance of caring for the whole family. I love getting to know my patients and their families, and being part of their journey as they grow and thrive.
Outside of work, I’m happiest spending time with family and friends, finding a great meal, listening to live music, or dreaming up our family’s next travel adventure. I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of Napa Valley Pediatrics, caring for the community that I love.
Christine Loffler-Barry MD
Dr. Loffler–Barry is the founder of our clinic. She has been practicing pediatrics, neonatal intensive care and adolescent medicine in the Napa Valley since 1998.
Dr. Loffler-Barry attended medical school at the prestigious University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain and completed her pediatric training at UMDNJ in New Jersey. She was offered a position as the Chief Pediatric Resident at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ where she was later offered a pediatric hospitalist staff position for an additional year, before relocating with her family to California.
She is a Board-Certified pediatrician and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a member of the Napa County Medical Society, and a member of the California Medical Association. She was trained by the prestigious Dr. Berry Brazelton in Touchpoints, a tool for pediatric developmental assessments. She has held the position of Chair of the Obstetrical & Pediatric Department in the past, acted as Interim Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and continues to provide on-call and admitting services for high-risk, premature and sick babies at the local Queen of the Valley Hospital. She has participated in the National Foundation of Celiac Awareness, was a supporter and active member of the Healthy for Life initiative, a local obesity task force in the valley and has been featured on the local radio station, discussing Latino health issues.
She is married and has two children, is fluent in both Spanish and German and is an enthusiastic urban beekeeper.
Elaine M. Gomez, PNP
Elaine Manansala Gomez is a seasoned Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) who has worked in our Napa Valley Pediatric Clinic since 2007.She holds a Master of Science and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degrees from the UC San Fransisco. After graduating high school in Napa Valley, she attended and graduated from CSU, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She has worked as an RN and then a PNP for over 12 years in private practice in Sacramento, before she and her young family moved back "home" to Napa.
Elaine likes all aspects of pediatrics, but specially finds joy in educating new parents, teenagers and seeing children and their families grow throughout the years. She shows compassion and empathy for families in their times of need, stress and during illnesses.
Elaine and her husband have 3 children. She feels her kids have been her best teacher in the realm of pediatrics. She enjoys reading, short runs through the hills of the beautiful Napa Valley, a good night's sleep and planning family trips near and far.
Ali Goodarzi, MD
Ali Goodarzi, MD is a board-certified family medicine physician who values collaborative, thoughtful care and truly listening to his patients. He believes the best outcomes come from partnership, making sure patients feel heard, informed, and confident in their care plans.
Dr. Goodarzi completed his residency at the Walter and Irene Baran Family Medicine Residency at Jefferson, where he trained across the full spectrum of family medicine. He earned his medical degree in Lublin, Poland, and brings a broad, evidence-based approach to caring for patients of all ages.
His clinical interests include sports medicine, pediatrics, migraine management, and chronic disease management. Dr. Goodarzi enjoys staying current with emerging treatments and new medications, and he welcomes open dialogue, often learning alongside his patients when exploring the best options together.
Born in Tehran, Dr. Goodarzi has lived on the East Coast, spent time in Los Angeles, and most recently completed his residency training in Pennsylvania before relocating to California. Outside of medicine, he enjoys soccer, traveling to sporting events, and exploring the local food and wine scene. He values time with family and is excited to build long-term relationships with patients in his new community.