Board Certified Pediatrician

Joined HPA: 2020

Residency: Baystate Children's Hospital, Springfield MA

Medical School: The University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington VT

Undergrad: The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst MA

Dr. Velasco grew up in the small central Massachusetts town of Oakham.  She grew to love the Pioneer Valley as a UMass undergrad, where she earned a B.S. in Exercise Science, played flute in the Minuteman Marching Band, and delved into a variety of volunteer roles to explore her interest in medicine.  After college she spent four years working as a cancer research technician, first at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute then at Duke University Medical Center.  She enjoyed the scientific process, but knew that she was happiest in a clinical setting, and returned to New England to realize her goal of becoming a physician.  In medical school, she soon realized her passion for working with children and had what a mentor once called "the pediatric glow."  She has been practicing pediatrics in the local area since completing her training at Baystate in 2010.  She is thrilled to have joined Holyoke Pediatric Associates in 2020! 

Dr. Velasco loves getting to know families over time and guiding them through all stages from infancy through adolescence.  She believes in the power of prevention, and the importance of establishing healthy habits early on.  She strives to help her patients maintain their emotional well being.  She finds particular joy in supporting new parents, and has trained as a lactation counselor through the Healthy Children Project Center for Breastfeeding.   

Dr. Velasco lives in South Hadley with her family.  You may see her around town with her two young daughters!  She loves dancing, cooking, swimming and exploring nature, and reading historical fiction.  She enjoys the theater and the arts.  She was a figure skater for many years, and occasionally still gets on the ice.  She has traveled in Latin America and speaks conversational Spanish. Though not fluent, she is practicing and honing her Spanish skills!

Dr. Velasco is board certified by the American Board of Pediatric and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  She is on staff at Baystate Medical Center and is an adjunct staff member at Boston Children's Hospital.

Dr. Velasco sees patients 2days a week in our South Hadley office and 1 day a week in our Holyoke office.