River People Health Center Pediatrics is dedicated to providing children and adolescents with health care in a welcoming and family friendly environment. Our teams are committed to delivering compassionate care for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and surrounding Native children.
Pediatrics Services
The RPHC providers complete well visits that include comprehensive care that includes well child exams, sports physicals, immunizations, hearing and vision screening, and other development screenings.
Providers work to treat acute childhood illnesses and injuries by appointment.
RPHC offers same-day pediatric appointments! You can call 480-278-7742 to schedule ahead of time or simply walk in. Walk-in spots are limited and available between 8 AM and 5 PM.
RPHC Pediatric services provides many services including but not limited to:
- Well child exams
- Sports physicals
- Wart removal
- Immunizations
- Hearing and vision screenings
- Developmental screenings
- Asthma management
- Teen health
- Obesity
Pediatrics Providers
Pediatrician
Dr. Joyce Helmuth is a board-certified Pediatrician who brings over a decade of experience serving the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. She comes from an immigrant Filipino family and was raised in a culturally diverse neighborhood in Chicago, which sparked her lifelong interest in cross-cultural care.
She completed her pediatric residency training in Virginia and began her medical career at Fort Defiance Indian Hospital in northern Arizona, where she developed a deep appreciation for the Diné way of life and other Native cultures. She later practiced privately in Phoenix before joining the Salt River Clinic, where she has provided care to Native families for more than 10 years.
Dr. Helmuth is passionate about global health and has participated in clinical rotations and medical missions in Nigeria, Russia, Ecuador, and the Philippines. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, golfing, listening to music, dancing, and spending time with her family playing board games.
Pediatrician
Dr. Leslee Kelly is a board-certified Pediatrician with over two decades of experience in both outpatient and hospital settings. She earned her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and completed her internship and residency at the University of Colorado in Denver.
Dr. Kelly practiced pediatrics in Phoenix for 21 years and spent 11 years working part-time as a pediatric hospitalist. She is passionate about partnering with families to support the health and well-being of their children and is honored to serve the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
She is the proud mother of three children and enjoys reading, running, hiking, biking, and volunteering. She also has a hidden love for tap dancing.
Pediatrician
Dr. Melissa Manning is a board-certified Pediatrician originally from the Midwest. She earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed her pediatric residency in Michigan. She later pursued subspecialty training at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Drawn to Phoenix for its sunshine and sense of community, Dr. Manning is deeply committed to serving underserved populations. Her experience includes caring for children in foster care, unaccompanied minors, and youth in Native communities.
She is passionate about helping all children reach their full potential and works closely with families to support healthy childhood development and long-term wellness.
