E. Ruffin Franklin, MD, FAAP
Computer Drive Office

Dr. Franklin is a Board Certified Pediatrician and one of Capitol Pediatrics and Adolescent Center’s partnering physicians. He began practicing with Capitol Pediatrics in 1982. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University, his medical degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, and completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Memorial Hospital of Northwestern University and Duke University. Dr. Franklin also received additional training on a Public Health Service Fellowship to Yugoslavia and electives at University College Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children in London. He is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of North Carolina.

In addition, Dr. Franklin has been named one of the nation's best pediatricians by Best Doctors, Inc. and is listed by them as a consulting pediatrician in their network.

Prior to returning to Raleigh, his hometown, he spent 10 years in private practice in Tarboro, NC where, as Director of Pediatric Services, he helped establish a model rural health care clinic. His areas of interest include office-based emergencies including laceration repairs and minor surgical procedures, infectious diseases, and dermatology. What excites him and keeps him going is watching his patients grow from babies to young healthy adults.

Dr. Franklin is married to his former emergency room nurse at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and spends his free time keeping up with his four children.

Steven P. Kubicki, MD, FAAP
Knightdale Office

Dr. Kubicki is a Board Certified Pediatrician and one of Capitol Pediatrics and Adolescent Center's partnering physicians. He joined Capitol Pediatrics in 1993 after serving Kaiser Permanente as a staff pediatrician. He received his undergraduate degree from Saint Mary's College of California, his medical degree from George Washington University, and completed his pediatric residency at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Kubicki's special interests include the care and management of children with chronic disease, asthma teaching, pulmonary function testing, diabetes management, and working interdependently with specialists to coordinate medical care for developmentally disordered children, including the management of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Dr. Kubicki and his wife, Theresa, have a son, Cullen who is away at college and a daughter, Jessica, at home.

Linda H. Butler, MD, FAAP
Computer Drive Office

Dr. Butler is a Board Certified Pediatrician and one of Capitol Pediatrics and Adolescent Center’s partnering physicians and she is the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Rex Hospital. She joined Capitol Pediatrics in 1995 after completion of her pediatric residency training with the University of North Carolina Hospitals. Dr. Butler received her undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering from North Carolina State University and then completed her Master of Science in Medical Physics from the University of Florida before returning to North Carolina to attend medical school at UNC-Chapel Hill. Dr. Butler’s special interests include work with premature babies, asthma patients, adolescents and special needs children. She also has an interest in pediatric clinical research and is an associate clinical professor at UNC, which involves teaching third year medical students.

Dr. Butler is married and has two children, Garrett and McKenna.

Jeffrey C. Ryan, MD, FAAP
Wakefield Office

Dr. Ryan is a Board Certified Pediatrician who joined Capitol Pediatrics in July 2001 after serving as a full time member of the Tidewater Children's Associates practice in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He received his undergraduate degree in zoology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, his medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio, and completed his pediatric residency at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Ryan is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Sports Medicine. He enjoys running, hiking and reading.

Dr. Ryan and his wife, Anita, who is also a doctor, are the proud parents of four boys.

Wendy L. Taylor Book, MD, FAAP
Wakefield Office

Dr. Taylor Book received her Bachelor of Science Degree from The College of William and Mary, Summa Cum Laude, and her Master of Arts, Microbiology and Immunology, from Duke University Graduate School. She Graduated from the Duke University School of Medicine and joined our practice immediately upon completing her Residency at Duke University Medical Center.

Dr. Taylor Book and husband, Paul, are the proud parents of their two daughters, Madison and Mackenzie.

Miriam Medero-Eng, MD, FAAP
Computer Drive Office

Dr. Medero-Eng is a board certified pediatrician who joined Capitol Pediatrics in November, 2007. She received her B.A. in Chemistry from New York University, College of Arts and Science in New York, NY and her M.D. from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, NY. She did her pediatric residency at Children's Hospital at Montefiore in The Bronx, NY. Before coming to North Carolina, she was an attending physician with Beth Israel Pediatric Associates at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York and she was an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY.

Dr. Medero-Eng moved near her family in Apex, North Carolina with her husband and daughter.

Shilpa K. Rajagopal, MD, MPH
Computer Drive Office

Dr. Shilpa is a board certified pediatrician who joined Capitol Pediatrics in May, 2008. She received her medical degree from the University of Hong Kong and completed her pediatric residency training at Duke University Medical Center. She then completed a NRSA Primary Care Research Fellowship and obtained a Master's in Public Health degree in Maternal and Child Health from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. Dr. Shilpa has an interest in pediatric clinical research, particularly within the area of childhood obesity prevention.

Dr. Shilpa is married and has two children, Hari and Leela.

Beverly M. Hockenberger, PA-C
Computer Drive Office

Beverly is a nationally and state Certified Physician Assistant who joined Capitol Pediatrics in 1997 after serving at Henderson Pediatric Center. She has an extensive background working with hematology-oncology patients, as well as working with newborn babies and their mothers serving as a Lactation Consultant. Beverly completed her undergraduate degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and received her physician assistant training from Duke University.

Beverly enjoys basket weaving, designing stained glass and coordinating and catering weddings. She, along with her two children and her husband, also loves to ski. Her husband is a member of the National Ski Patrol.

Kathleen F. Clasen, P.N.P.
Wakefield Office

Kathleen Clasen completed her Masters of Nursing/Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. She is also an International Board Certified Lacation Consultant. Kathleen has her Critical Care Nurse III Certification, Neonatal Advanced Life Support Certification and Basic Life Support Certification. She is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the North Carolina Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Before joining Capitol Pediatrics, Kathleen worked as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse at WakeMed and as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for the Center of Development and Learning in Chapel Hill. Her experience as a Certified Lactation Consultant enables her to provide education and assistance to breast-feeding mothers.

Lynn I. Rice, C.P.N.P.
Computer Drive Office

Lynn I. Rice, C.P.N.P., is a graduate of the North Carolina Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Winston-Salem, N.C. She completed her Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine and the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. Lynn is a Member and Fellow of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners, a Member of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, a Member of the NAPNAP – San Diego Chapter and the California Coalition of Nurse Practitioners. She was awarded the State Award for Excellence for Nurse Practitioners by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Before coming to Capitol Pediatrics, some of Lynn’s experiences include: affiliation with the Children’s Healthcare Medical Associates, Inc. of San Diego, CA as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner; Clinical Associate with the Phillip Y. Hahn School of Nursing, Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of San Diego; Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/Adolescent Medicine Consultant, El Capitan Teen Clinic, El Capital Family Health Center, Lakeside, CA; Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/Adolescent Medicine Specialist, Memorial Adolescent Services Center, Memorial Middle School, San Diego Unified School District; Project P.A.L.S.; and Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

Lynn returned to North Carolina in 2004 to be near her family and joined Capitol Pediatrics soon after her arrival in her home state.

Lisa Smith-Watson, P.N.P.
Knightdale Office

Lisa was first affiliated with Capitol Pediatrics while she was a student completing her specialty rotations. Upon graduation from Duke University with two master's degrees, she accepted an offer to become a permanent member of our team. She has a Master of Science in Nursing in Primary care and a Master of Science in Nursing, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute/Chronic Care. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Florida in Gainsville. Her primary location is our Knightdale office. Lisa and her husband live in Cary.