In an era when parents are increasingly seeking personalized healthcare, faster access to providers, integrated specialty services, and stronger support for children’s mental and emotional well-being, one New Jersey pediatric practice is positioning itself to meet those evolving needs with a modern, family-centered approach. Kayal Pediatrics, located in Franklin Lakes and operating as a dedicated division of the Kayal Medical Group, is rapidly establishing itself as one of Bergen County’s most comprehensive pediatric healthcare destinations following the recognition of its physicians by NJ Top Docs for 2026.
The designation recognizes the leadership and expertise of Dr. Basil Bruno, Dr. Julie Aliaga, and Dr. Uma Taneja, three board-certified pediatricians who are helping shape a healthcare model that blends traditional pediatric medicine with expanded access, integrated specialty resources, and a growing emphasis on preventive care, behavioral health, and family education.
As healthcare continues to evolve throughout New Jersey, practices that can provide continuity of care, coordinate services efficiently, and support families beyond routine office visits are becoming increasingly important. Kayal Pediatrics represents a growing movement within healthcare that views pediatric medicine not simply as the treatment of childhood illness, but as a long-term partnership between physicians, parents, and young patients designed to support healthy development from infancy through young adulthood.
Located in Franklin Lakes, the practice officially opened its doors in January 2026 with a mission centered on individualized, evidence-based care. Since then, the clinic has quickly become a destination for families seeking a pediatric practice capable of addressing the full spectrum of childhood health needs while maintaining the personalized attention often associated with smaller community-based medical offices.
At the center of the practice is a highly experienced medical team led by Dr. Basil Bruno, who serves as Chief of Pediatrics. With more than three decades of experience caring for children and families throughout New Jersey, Dr. Bruno brings both clinical expertise and an educational perspective to the practice. In addition to treating patients, he has spent years helping train future physicians through medical student and resident education programs.
That combination of experience and mentorship reflects a broader philosophy embraced by the practice—one that values both clinical excellence and continuous learning.
Joining Dr. Bruno are Dr. Julie Aliaga and Dr. Uma Taneja, physicians whose specialties help expand the range of services available to patients while reinforcing the practice’s commitment to whole-child healthcare.
Dr. Aliaga focuses on comprehensive pediatric wellness and the development of strong relationships with families. Her approach emphasizes collaboration between healthcare providers and parents, recognizing that successful pediatric care often depends as much on communication and trust as it does on clinical treatment.
Dr. Taneja brings specialized expertise in adolescent medicine and pediatric mental health, two areas that have become increasingly important as families and healthcare providers navigate rising concerns surrounding anxiety, depression, social pressures, and emotional wellness among young people.
Together, the physicians form a team that reflects the changing landscape of pediatric healthcare, where physical health, mental health, emotional development, and preventive medicine are viewed as interconnected components of a child’s overall well-being.
Supporting the physicians is board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner Marisa Daly, whose family-centered approach helps provide additional access and continuity for patients and their caregivers.
What distinguishes Kayal Pediatrics from many traditional pediatric offices is the breadth of services available under one roof.
The practice provides comprehensive primary pediatric care beginning with infancy and extending through adolescence and young adulthood. Families have access to routine well-child visits, annual physical examinations, developmental screenings, immunizations, and preventive care services designed to identify concerns early while supporting healthy growth and development.
Preventive care remains one of the most important aspects of pediatric medicine, and the practice places significant emphasis on helping families establish healthy habits, monitor developmental milestones, and address concerns before they become more serious medical issues.
In addition to preventive services, Kayal Pediatrics offers acute care options designed to meet the realities of modern family life.
Children do not get sick according to convenient schedules, and parents often find themselves needing immediate medical guidance for illnesses, infections, fevers, injuries, or unexpected symptoms. To address those challenges, the practice offers same-day sick visits and walk-in availability, allowing families to receive timely care without unnecessary delays.
This accessibility reflects an understanding that convenience is often a critical component of effective healthcare, particularly for working parents balancing school schedules, extracurricular activities, and family responsibilities.
The practice also provides specialized evaluations including sports physicals, school physicals, college entrance examinations, and prenatal consultations for expectant parents preparing to welcome a new child into their family.
These services allow healthcare providers to establish relationships with families before birth and continue those connections throughout childhood and adolescence.
Perhaps one of the most significant areas of growth within pediatric healthcare involves behavioral and mental health support.
Across New Jersey and throughout the nation, healthcare providers have observed increasing demand for pediatric mental health services. Families are seeking assistance with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma-related concerns, and other behavioral challenges that affect children and adolescents.
Kayal Pediatrics has integrated these services into its healthcare model, providing support for families navigating these complex issues while helping coordinate educational accommodations such as Section 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs.
This integrated approach recognizes a reality many parents face: children’s health challenges often extend beyond the doctor’s office and into classrooms, extracurricular activities, and daily life.
Helping families access appropriate resources and educational support can significantly improve outcomes for young patients while reducing stress for parents and caregivers.
Another notable advantage of the practice is its connection to the broader Kayal Medical Group network.
Healthcare fragmentation remains one of the biggest challenges facing patients today. Families frequently encounter situations where specialists operate independently, records are difficult to transfer, and communication between providers can be inconsistent.
By functioning within a larger medical network, Kayal Pediatrics gives patients access to coordinated specialty services that include orthopedics, sports medicine, podiatry, physical therapy, diagnostic imaging, and other healthcare resources.
For families, this can translate into faster referrals, improved communication between providers, and a more seamless healthcare experience overall.
The practice has also implemented facility design features aimed at improving patient safety and comfort.
Separate waiting areas for sick and well visits help reduce unnecessary exposure while creating a more comfortable environment for children and families. In an age when infection control and patient safety remain top priorities, these operational decisions demonstrate a commitment to providing thoughtful healthcare experiences.
Access to care extends beyond normal business hours as well.
Families enrolled with the practice benefit from 24-hour on-call access to medical providers, ensuring that guidance remains available when unexpected concerns arise outside of standard office schedules.
This type of availability can provide reassurance for parents facing urgent questions about symptoms, medications, illnesses, or treatment plans.
Insurance accessibility also remains a key component of the practice’s mission. By accepting major commercial insurance plans, Kayal Pediatrics aims to ensure that comprehensive pediatric care remains available to a broad range of families throughout Bergen County and neighboring communities.
One area where the practice has attracted attention is its approach to conversations surrounding vaccinations.
While the physicians follow guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics and continue to recommend evidence-based preventive healthcare measures, the practice also emphasizes open communication with families. Rather than creating adversarial relationships around healthcare decisions, providers focus on education, discussion, and informed decision-making.
That philosophy reflects a broader commitment to partnership-based medicine, where trust and communication remain central to patient care.
The commitment to education extends beyond clinical appointments.
Kayal Pediatrics regularly hosts free parenting classes open to the public, covering topics that many families encounter during the early years of childhood development. Subjects include sleep safety, infant feeding practices, seasonal wellness concerns, injury prevention, hygiene, and other practical issues that impact everyday family life.
These educational initiatives transform the practice from a traditional healthcare provider into a broader community resource.
As New Jersey families continue seeking healthcare providers capable of addressing increasingly complex medical, developmental, and emotional needs, practices like Kayal Pediatrics are helping redefine what pediatric medicine can look like in the modern era.
By combining experienced physicians, integrated specialty resources, expanded mental health support, same-day access, preventive care, family education, and coordinated healthcare services, the Franklin Lakes practice is building a model designed not only to treat illness but to support children and families throughout every stage of growth and development.
The recognition of Dr. Basil Bruno, Dr. Julie Aliaga, and Dr. Uma Taneja by NJ Top Docs for 2026 serves as more than an acknowledgment of individual achievement. It reflects the growing demand for healthcare systems that prioritize accessibility, collaboration, education, and comprehensive family-centered care.
For parents across Bergen County and beyond, that approach may represent exactly what modern pediatric medicine needs as it enters a new chapter focused not simply on treating children, but on helping entire families thrive.
