Meet Our Team

Leo Distefano

Dr. Leo DiStefano is a Jersey guy who sang Springsteen songs as his children's lullabies. Raised in a close-knit, extended family, he left home to study at the University of Rochester in western New York. There, he earned an undergraduate degree in Biology and most importantly met his wife, Ann. Leo stayed at U of R for medical school, where he found his true calling in pediatrics. The couple moved to Connecticut, where Dr. D. completed his residency at University of Connecticut. He loved the pediatric community and, after a year as chief resident, joined the practice of Drs. Fote, Toscano and Gabrielle. Before long, Dr. Distefano established a practice in West hartford center, and was blessed to convince two like-minded docs he had befriended in residency to join him- Dr. Della Corcoran and Dr. Peg O'Neill. Having brought up two daughters and son in Avon, CT, Dr. D understands the challenges of raising children in today's complex world, and he takes pride in helping families thrive in their physical and mental health. Leo's care for children and families extends into his personal life, where he has served his local church and community as a sports coach, teen ministry mentor, and head of Avon Food Pantry Garden. Dr. D is an avid outdoorsman and likes to boat, fish, hunt, hike, golf, garden and cook. Dr. DiStefano has been honored annually by Connecticut Magazine as a "Top Doc" in the state.

Della Corcoran

Dr. Corcoran grew up out west in Wyoming, Texas and Colorado. After completing her undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Colorado State University, she moved to Connecticut for a job in the actuarial department of a large insurance company. It didn’t take long for her to realize her true calling was in medicine, and so she pursued her dream and attended The University of Connecticut School of Medicine where she earned both Clinical Honors and the Pediatric Prize. She went on to complete her residency training in Pediatrics through The University of Connecticut and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, serving as Chief Resident with Dr. O’Neill for the grand opening of Connecticut Children’s. During that time she also became a mom to her two sons. She joined Dr.DiStefano at Central Pediatrics in 1997 and has had the joy and honor of guiding and watching families and children grow and flourish to their full potential. She finds it important and meaningful to care for the broad range of normal and atypical development, acute and chronic illnesses, and the behavioral challenges of each age group, appreciating the dynamic, cultural and historical nuances in each family unit. She is now enjoying having many former patients bring their own children to Central Pediatrics for care. Dr. Corcoran, along with her partners, participate in medical education. You might meet premed students, current medical students and residents in our office as we are all members of the Clinical Faculty at The University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Corcoran has been named as a “Top Doc” in Connecticut Magazine for several years, and in 2023 she was awarded the Community Pediatrician of the Year by Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Dr. Corcoran and her husband, an interventional cardiologist, live in the Farmington Valley and also spend lots of time at Candlewood Lake. Their adult children live in the area (at least for now) with their spouses. You can often find her running in the reservoir, hiking any number of trails, riding her bike, cross country skiing at Winding Trails (yes! I’m the one who prays for snow all winter!), or swimming, SUPing and waterskiing in Candlewood Lake - or just running errands at the grocery store! As a true outdoor enthusiast, she is a firm believer in the scientifically proven physical and mental health benefits of being in nature. As part of her commitment to this belief she serves on the Board of Directors at Connecticut Forests and Parks Association - ctwoodlands.org.

Margaret O’Neill

Dr. O'Neill was born and raised in New York and Connecticut. After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the College of the Holy Cross, she spent two years as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps serving as a patient advocate at a health clinic for low-income families in Portland, Oregon before deciding that her calling was medicine. She received her M.D. degree from UCONN, and after completing her pediatric residency at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, she returned to her Connecticut roots to serve as chief resident (with Dr. Corcoran), the year that Connecticut Children's Medical Center opened its doors. She then spent five years as an attending physician at the Burgdorf Clinic, an academic community health center in the North End of Hartford where she also served in several of Hartofrd's school-based health clinics, before joining her own pediatricians at Central Pediatrics. As a biological mom, an adoptive mom, and a "sandwich generation" mom, Dr. O'Neill understands the joys (and challenges) of all these roles, and the importance of having a village of support and community in helping kids 9AND parents) grow and thrive at each stage of development. Dr. O'Neill is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the UCONN School of Medicine, a member of the executive committee of the Connecticut chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a Connecticut Magazine "Top Doc". She and her husband live in West Hartford, where they have raised their two sons. She enjoys running, hiking and most winter sports and can often be seen walking her dog.

Kelly Smith

Kelly Smith, M.D. FAAP, is Board Certified in General Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. She received her medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine after receiving her B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross. Dr. Smith completed her pediatric residency training at Connecticut Children's Medical Center through the University of Connecticut program. Born and raised in Connecticut, Dr. Smith currently resides in Simsbury with her family. In her free time, she enjoys doing yoga, hiking, and spending time on Cape Cod.

Nirupa Sekaran, APRN

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Nirupa joined Central Pediatrics in 2024 and has been a certified pediatric nurse practitioner since 2003. Before joining the practice, she spent 20 years at a local pediatric group. From a young age, Nirupa knew she wanted to care for children in a healthcare setting. As a mother of three, she finds joy in building strong partnerships with families and supporting them on their parenting journey. She is dedicated to promoting wellness, growth, and development from birth through young adulthood, with a special interest in adolescent health. Nirupa earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Yale School of Nursing in 2003 and her undergraduate degree from Middlebury College in 1994. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and traveling.

Vanessa C. Pacholski, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Vanessa has been a member of Central Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine for over 20 years. She graduated from Central CT State University in 1996 with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Biology, and earned her PA degree Cum Laude from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia in 2001. Vanessa began her career as a PA at Central Pediatrics in 2002. She is passionate about educating and partnering with families on health, wellness, and preventive care, with a special interest in mental health. While studying in Philadelphia, she volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House, and continues to serve her community through local food shelves and school events. Vanessa and her husband Mick have two children, Luke and Grace. She enjoys reading, music, swimming, hiking, biking, and traveling with her family.