Our Mission Statement

Cornelia Franz, MD is the founder and owner of the Franz Center in Orlando, Fla. She was raised in Asheville, NC and attended Wake Forest University as an undergraduate. She received her MD from Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC. Pediatric Internship was in Lexington, Kentucky. (The Kentucky Derby is in Louisville). Residency in pediatrics was at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla. at the University of Florida. After residency she did a fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. She has been in pediatric practice in Orlando since 1985. Patients are admitted to Arnold Hospital for Children and Women. The Franz Center is a pediatric practice specializing in Integrative Medicine,Homeopathy and Chinese Medicine. We also recommend and refer to massage therapists, craniosacral therapists, and practitioners in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Diana L. Smith, ARNP is one of the nurse practitioners at the Franz Center.She earned her BSN from the University of Florida in 1982. She worked as a Pediatric RN for many years at ORMC/Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando. In 1997, she completed her Masters degree in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She began working as a nurse practitioner at the Franz Center after graduation. In 1998, she received her certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner thr ough the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Diana has also received additional training in alternative medicine and craniosacral therapy. She has been with the Franz Center for 12 years.

Deb Wills, ARNP joined the Franz Center in June 2003 after completeing her Masters Program at the University of Central Florida. Prior to this, Deb obtained a BS in Nursing and held a position as a Certified Pediatric Registered Nurse At Arnold Hospital For Children and Women. She brings more than twenty years of experience caring for pediatric patients. Deb is married and has three children. She is an avid basketball fan and enjoys reading and going to the movies.

Nicole J Craven, MD is a pediatrician from Greensboro, NC that specializes in Integrative Medicine. Using this principle, she strives to instill a whole body wellness approach into the lives of families. Her focus includes preventative medicine, nutrition, healthy life style choices, mental and spiritual awareness and natural approaches to treating illness. She is extremely excited to be in Orlando and provide this approach to children here.

Dr Craven completed medical school In New Orleans, LA at Tulane University. She completed her general pediatric fellowship in Charleston, SC at MUSC. She graduated from the University of AZ Integrative Medicine Fellowship with Dr Andrew Weil in December 2010. She has been practicing outpatient pediatrics since 2004.

In her downtime, Dr Craven loves to do yoga, jog, listen to music, dine with her family and friends, do most activities outdoor, and travel.

Angela Venezia, ARNP joined the Franz Center April 2010.  She earned her BSN and MSN from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in San Antonio Texas. Angela worked in Texas for four years as a hospital RN gaining experience with labor & delivery, NICU, newborn nursery, and postpartum then specializing in pediatrics prior to returning to school for her MSN. She continued to work full time with children with cancer as an inpatient hospital RN while she earned her masters and certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP). Additionally, she volunteered at a camp for children with disabilities for seven years throughout her nursing career. After graduating with her MSN in 2000, she moved to Florida and worked for seven years as a nurse practitioner with children with cancer and blood diseases at Florida Hospital South. After having her daughter Olivia in 2007, Angela has been working in outpatient primary care pediatrics.  Angela enjoys photography, and is an avid Disney fan, often spending time there with her husband Joe and daughter Olivia.