Mission

Our mission is to provide exceptional, nurse practitioner–led pediatric primary care for high-risk infants and children with medical complexities. We partner with families to deliver comprehensive, coordinated, and accessible care that promotes growth, resilience, and quality of life—empowering children to thrive from the very start.

Vision

We envision a future where children with medical complexities receive seamless, compassionate care that bridges hospital to home, reduces disparities, and fosters lifelong health. VitalStart Pediatrics aspires to be a model of innovative, nurse-led primary care in California and beyond—transforming how communities care for their most vulnerable children.

Values

Compassion – We lead with empathy, kindness, and respect for every child and family.

Excellence – We deliver high-quality, evidence-based care grounded in the best practices of pediatrics and nursing.

Family Partnership – We value families as essential partners in care and empower them with knowledge, guidance, and support.

Equity & Access – We are dedicated to reducing barriers to care and ensuring that every child, regardless of circumstance, has a vital start in life.

Innovation – We embrace new approaches, technologies, and models of care to improve outcomes for children with complex needs.

Collaboration – We foster strong partnerships with specialists, hospitals, schools, and community resources to ensure holistic, coordinated care.

Integrity – We uphold the highest ethical standards in all that we do, honoring the trust families place in us.

Meet the Owner and Founder!

Brett Mendez, MS, APRN, NNP-BC
Founder & Nurse Practitioner

Brett Mendez is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner with more than a decade of hands-on experience caring for fragile and high-risk infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. He earned his Neonatal Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of Connecticut and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Hawaii Pacific University, with anticipated completion in August 2026. Following the DNP, Brett plans to expand his scope of practice through postgraduate training as a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at the University of Texas at Arlington.

With a strong foundation in neonatal medicine and a passion for supporting children with complex medical needs, Brett founded VitalStart Pediatrics to create a nurse-practitioner-led clinic where families can access expert, comprehensive, and compassionate care. His vision is to bridge the gap between intensive care and long-term wellness, ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.