Meet the Providers

Mike Jordan MD, FAAP is a long-time local, having grown up right here in Palm Harbor. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and his medical degree from the George Washington School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Then he went on to complete his pediatric training at the University of Florida Health Science Center and Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, FL.

Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Jordan worked as a Pediatric Hospitalist at Mease Countryside, Morton Plant, and Tampa Children’s Hospital. It was during this time that he recognized the need for individualized and personal attention for his young patients.

In August 2004, he founded East Lake Pediatrics. He had a vision of creating a practice with an atmosphere that provides excellent care to children of all ages and establishes a warm, friendly environment where families feel at ease when visiting their doctor and interacting with the office personnel.

Dr. Jordan has been practicing for 16 years, and remains adamant about staying up-to-date on the latest and greatest in the industry. From attending live events to reading pertinent articles, Dr. Jordan is constantly striving to provide the best possible care for the patients of East Lake Pediatrics. By staying current with the latest information, Dr. Jordan and his team remain certain that they are offering the very best for their patients. He is a fellow of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as a member of the NCQA Patient Certified Medical Home.

Moreover, Dr. Jordan grants all the practice’s providers a yearly allowance and time off to pursue continuing education. The team is constantly learning and sharing knowledge with each other, while maintaining the high standards required to remain Patient-Centered Medical Home certified.

Dr. Jordan loves spending time with his patients and making them laugh, especially when they’re not feeling well. He chose the health care field because he enjoys helping people, whether that means treating their medical problems or protecting them from preventable diseases. Making a positive impact on lives the lives of his patients is of the utmost importance.

As a fun-loving person, Dr. Jordan strives to make sure that East Lake Pediatrics is not only a great place to receive exceptional care, but that each patient’s time in the practice is fun! Whether the team is dressing up for Halloween or pajama day, they provide serious care without taking themselves too seriously. The fun never gets in the way of providing fantastic and personal care, but the team strikes a balance between the two in order to put patients and their families at ease during what would otherwise be a stressful time.

Dr. Jordan and his wife, Beth, have two daughters, Elizabeth and Lily. When he’s not at the office he loves spending time with his family. They often return to Gainesville to cheer on the Florida Gators! Dr. Jordan also enjoys going to concerts whenever possible.

Fun Facts:
• What is the best food you’ve ever eaten? Crab-stuffed shrimped wrapped in bacon. AKA my 2nd favorite food stuffed in my 3rd favorite food wrapped in my 1st favorite food.
• What is your favorite singer and/or band? The Cure
• What is your favorite sports team? The Florida Gators

Cary Aungst MD, FAAP joined East Lake Pediatrics in July of 2013. Dr. Aungst attended college in her then hometown of Gainesville, Florida. After earning Bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science, as well as her Medical Degree from the University of Florida, she moved to Tampa and completed her residency at the University of South Florida. She became a part of the East Lake Pediatrics team immediately following her residency. Dr. Aungst is committed to staying up to date on the latest in the industry, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Ever passionate about her all aspects of her job, Dr. Aungst specifically loves dealing in infant feeding and child nutrition, developmental disorders, and endocrine disorders. One of her favorite parts of the job is working with parents at a team to solve any problems their child may be facing. This teamwork helps to build relationships and ensures that her job is rewarding each and every day. Moreover, she loves that the team at East Lake Pediatrics is like family—they have fun and work together to provide great care to all patients.

She chose her profession because she loves spending time around children and doing her best to help their parents be the best parents they can be. Dr. Aungst is inspired by the hardworking moms and dads she encounters, who make sacrifices every day to give their children the best opportunities for health and happiness. She is passionate about, not just helping her patients stay healthy, but helping them find ways to achieve their best quality of life.

Dr. Aungst has been married to her husband, Brian, since 2010, and is the proud mother of two children, Brynn and Bruce. When she’s not at the office, you can find her spending time with her husband, kids, and their Golden Retriever, Diamond. They enjoy swimming, taking trips to Disney World, and trying new foods both at restaurants and in their kitchen!

As a devoted member of her community, Dr. Aungst is a committee member for the Blue Jean Ball—an annual event that benefits religious community services in Pinellas County. Additionally, she is a member of the PTA Board at her daughter’s school and volunteers with the United Methodist Church in Clearwater.

Fun Facts:
• What is your favorite food? Popcorn, Macaroni & Cheese, Publix Fried Chicken
• What is your favorite singer and/or band? Journey, The Eagles, Backstreet Boys, Billy Joel
• What is your favorite sports team? Florida Gators!

Trudi Rash MD, FAAP grew up near Wheeling, West Virginia (not far from Pittsburgh, PA), and is currenly living in Indian Rocks Beach, though she hopes to settle in the Palm Harbor area soon. She obtained her undergraduate and medical degrees from Marshall University in Huntington, WV, and did her pediatric training in Mobile, AL.

Having recently relocated from Louisville, KY, she has spent the past 27 years helping new parents and teaching families how to stay healthy and navigate illness. She believes that it is truly an honor to help care for children, gain the trust of her patients' families, and watch both children and parents grow as the child matures. While it was bittersweet leaving behind the patients she has cared for, Dr. Rash is looking forward to forging relationships with a new group of families.

From self-directed learning to attending grand rounds as well as local and national pediatric meetings, she is constantly striving to keep up with the latest and greatest in the world of pediatrics. Medicine is an ever-evolving discipline with changes in treatments occurring regularly. Thus, it is essential that the physician stay abreast of new developments in order to give their patients the best possible care.

The most exciting part of Dr. Rash's job is giving the patient the best possible medical care. Simultaneously, she makes the patient's parents feel comfortable and allows them to ask questions that will help their child grow into a healthy, well-rounded adult. She considers it a privilege to have such an intimate role in her patients’ lives.

Dr. Rash lives with her husband, Jeff, and they have two grown children still living in Louisville, KY--a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Phillip. She may have learned almost as much about pediatrics from parenting her kids as she has in medical books, and she's been continually surprised at the new things they teach her about herself. Raising them has enabled her to be more empathetic with families and relate better to her patients.

Dr. Rash is anxious to explore her new home, its environment, and the creatures who share this place with us. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and water sports, and is excited about the seemingly endless opportunities this area affords her for all three. She has participated in competitive ballroom and country dancing in the past, and would love to reconnect with her creative side again.

Fun Facts:
What is your personal motto or favorite saying? “To whom much is given, much is expected.”
What is your favorite food? Pizza
Who is your favorite singer? James Taylor and Garth Brooks

Chris Smith MBChB, FAAP grew up in Nottinghamshire, England before attending medical school at the University of Leeds in West Yorkshire. He worked as a doctor in England for two years before moving to Australia where he worked for four years. Dr. Smith then moved to the United States in 2014 and completed his Pediatric Residency at The Children’s Hospital for the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. Next, he completed his fellowship in Pediatric Sports Medicine at Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio.

As a member of both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, Dr. Smith remains passionate about staying up-to-date on the latest and greatest in the industry. He takes great pride in providing the highest quality care to each and every patient he sees.

Dr. Smith's wife, Ann, was born in the Philippines and moved to the United States as a child. She attended college at the University of Florida and is now a Nurse Practitioner. The two have one son named Sullivan.

When he's not at work, you can find Dr. Smith spending time with his family. He loves football (soccer) and often watches Premier League games on TV, along with other sports such as Formula 1 motor racing. As a family, Dr. Smith, Ann, and Sullivan love going out to eat and traveling as much as possible. They can also be found biking, hiking, and participating in running events.

Fun facts:
Who is your favorite superhero? Spiderman
What is your favorite sports team? Arsenal FC
What is something few people know about you? I am half Filipino.

Jennifer Leal MS, APRN, PNP attended the University of South Florida for both her Bachelors and Master’s degrees. She has been caring for children for the past 24 years, she has spent the last 20 as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Jennifer has vast experience in pediatric gastrointestinal disorders, milk protein allergy, reflux, colic and liver diseases. She practiced in a specialty office for years before joining East Lake Pediatrics in 2007. Her passion is children, keeping them healthy both physically and mentally and naturally caring for them when they are sick. She knows that caring for children also means making connections with their parents and making them feel comfortable at the office.

On a personal level Jennifer is married with three sons and two step children. She lives in a blended family with 5 children all still at home. Her family is very active, so she is often on the run. She enjoys water sports, outdoor activities, biking, exercising, watching sports and most anything with her family. Jennifer loves to travel and can often times be found on a cruise or relaxing at the lake.

Leah McCormack MS, APRN, PNP grew up in Rochester, New York, and has lived in Tampa for the past seven years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Binghamton before proceeding to the University of North Carolina to earn her Master of Science in Nursing degree. Since then, she has been a Nurse Practitioner for 23 years, 18 of which were specialized in Pediatrics, and she is an active member of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners.

The health care field was her calling for two reasons: 1.) Science was her favorite subject in school and 2.) She had a wonderful Pediatric Nurse Practitioner care for her as a child, motivating her to follow this career path.

Providing care at a smaller practice, such as East Lake Pediatrics, allows Leah and her colleagues to provide an extra level of care. Because of its size, the staff at the practice can interact with each other on a regular basis, which allows them to communicate and coordinate patient care more effectively. Leah believes that this extra level of care results in happier patients and parents who feel at home during each appointment.

Leah is most passionate about helping children maintain excellent health, both physically and mentally, which in turn creates happy, successful adults. This is best achieved by educating parents during childhood visits so that patients and parents can work together to help children become the best possible versions of themselves. Leah loves watching children laugh and smile, watching them learn and change as they grow, and helping parents feel confident knowing that they are doing a good job caring for their children.

Leah and her husband, Eamon, have two daughters, Addison (14) and Marin (8), and a dog named Mazie. When she’s not at work, you can find her spending time with her family, as her daughters keep a full schedule with sports, dance, and soccer. She also enjoys spending time on the boat, riding her bike, running, and volunteering at her children's school when possible. School volunteering allows her a chance to be active in her daughters’ lives while supporting the school employees who work so hard for the community.

Personal Statement
“Being a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is a very fulfilling part of my identity. Over the years, I have been blessed to be a part of so many families’ lives and watch as their children grow into healthy, young adults. In a small way, you get to feel that you are an extended part of their family. These aspects of my career give me a sense of having left a positive mark on the world we live in.”

Fun Facts:
• What is your favorite food? French Fries
• What is your favorite sports team? The Tampa Bay Lightning
• What is your favorite type of music? Country

Rosie Rodriguez DNP, APRN, PNP grew up in right here in Palm Harbor and attended East Lake High School. After graduation, she attended the University of Florida where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Nursing. She then continued to earn or Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree and her Public Health Certificate.

As a practitioner who is committed to providing the best possible care at all times, Rosie regularly attends conferences put on by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, and the University of Florida. In addition, she is a member of the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Nu.

Rosie is passionate about preventative care, as she loves teaching her patients about their bodies and how to remain healthy while preventing diseases. She enjoys watching her patients grow, “One minute they’re newborns and the next they’re graduating high school and entering the real world! I love to hear about their achievements and successes over the years and, of course, getting those big hugs and drawings from all my sweet patients!”

Another aspect of the job that Rosie loves is the wonderful team of physicians, nurses, medical assistants, and office staff with whom she gets to work. She believes that it takes a committed team to run a successful practice like East Lake Pediatrics, and that everyone plays an integral role in providing exceptional care. Each member of the staff is passionate about their job, making visits friendly and enjoyable for each and every patient.

Rosie has been married to her husband, Tyler, for almost four years and they are the proud parents of a rescued Goldendoodle named Levi. When she’s not at the office, you can find her at the beach, spending time with her family, or traveling with her husband.

Fun Facts:
• What is your personal motto or favorite saying? “We must become the change we wish to see in the world.” –Ghandi
• If you could be anywhere other than here, right this minute, where would you be? On the beach in the Bahamas. I lived there for 2.5 years!
• What is your favorite sports team? University of Florida Gators!

Jennifer Klaus LCSW has been living in Palm Harbor for the past 10 years and practicing for the last three. She chose this field after seeing a need within the community and having the desire to help, especially in regards to mental health.

She obtained her degree from Saint Leo University and has since been continuing her education in a variety of formats, including CBT workshops, a human trafficking seminar, and a laughter yoga class. This continuing education greatly benefits her patients, as it allows her to stay abreast of various techniques within the therapeutic process and provides her with tools for assessing needs and identifying at-risk populations.

Jennifer thrives on connecting with her clients and watching them break through barriers within their lives. She loves that each patient is unique, and enjoys fostering her patients' strengths and abilities. Along with the friendly and upbeat team at East Lake Pediatrics, she is passionate about bettering the lives of each and every patient she sees.

She lives with her husband and their animals: a three-year-old boerboel mastiff named Sheba, a one-year-old hurricane Michael stray named Pongo, and a one-year-old cat, Mr. Gus Gus Kitty. She also has six chickens--her bawk bawks.

When she's not at the office, you can find Jennifer in her garden working on her plants, or spending time with her husband and animals. She is also an artist and loves creating art with ink and watercolors. Jennifer is passionate about art, plants, animals, cooking and food, and traveling (last year she went to Greece and Peru!).

Fun Facts
What is your favorite food? Lately, empanadas and lomo saltado.
What is something few people know about you? I love Nintendo games
What inspires you? Kindness and nature.