I was born and raised in sunny Southern California by my mother, an elementary teacher for 37 years. I always helped in her classroom before and after school, and children were a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I thought about teaching, which I believe is in my blood, but I felt that supervising 20+ children in one room all day was not my forte.I decided to pursue my loves of science, math and art in college by getting an architecture degree at the University of Southern California. I worked in an architecture firm for not very long before I heard back from the Air Force about an officer position. (I had taken tests to join out of college.)I left architecture for new training in the AF as a navigator and ultimately acquired a position in the daddy of all bombers — the B-52! I started out as a navigator, then upgraded to the radar navigator/bombardier. I moved up the ranks and got to the point where I felt I needed to commit to a career in the AF or move on. I did some soul-searching and decided to honorably separate to return to school for pre-med and become a doctor.I went to medical school at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LA, where I had been stationed in the AF. I was planning on returning to California for residency; however, when I came to Kansas City for my interview at Children’s Mercy, I fell in love with the hospital and the residency program. I ended up putting CMH at the top of my “match list” and got my first choice.

I grew up in Kansas City and completed my pediatric training in Wisconsin. I went into pediatrics because children are resilient, funny and unique. It’s a privilege to do this job and watch my patients grow.When I was 15, I had Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It was a tough time for my family and me, but I was cared for by a wonderful group of doctors and nurses. As hard as it was, that experience is what led me to pursue a career in medicine. I hope to provide the same level of care given to me all those years ago to my patients and their families.I enjoy what I do, but I would be a teacher or coach if I weren’t in medicine. I always loved science growing up, and it would be fun to pass that love on to the next generation. The opportunity to coach — baseball or basketball, most likely — would go well with my lifelong love of sports.At home, I love to spend time with my wife and my two young daughters. We love to be outside, go on hikes and look for rocks, sticks and animals. On the weekend, we plan our schedule around Chiefs and Royals games.If I was a kid again — say, a 13-year-old — I would tell my younger self to be patient. It’s a trait that comes in handy throughout life, especially when you are anxiously awaiting the next Chiefs and Royals championship win!.

Here at Community Choice Pediatrics, I’m a general pediatrician where, every day, I see kids and work with them and their families. Our team’s focus is on healthy kids, helping whatever sick kid who walks in our door get better!As a new parent myself, I can relate to the challenges, joys, and questions of having a new child at home. I enjoy walking alongside my patients and families through their experiences. I like to tell them they’re writing a story — and that their individual needs and circumstances make the story uniquely their own. As their pediatrician, it’s my great privilege to be a part of their stories.One of my favorite things about working here is the collegiality. I haven’t been here that long, but the teamwork truly stands out as we work together, providing the best care we can for our families.If I weren’t a physician, I think I’d be a teacher. One of the things I love about pediatrics is that a lot of what we do is educating kids and their families. It’s an important part of the care we provide, and I strive to do it well!Outside of work, I enjoy exploring Kansas City with my family (wife, son, and 75-pound pup Tucker), staying caught up with my Missouri Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals, and newly adopted team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Whenever I can, I catch an episode of The Office or get outside for a long run, walk, hike, or bike ride. Sometimes you can find me washing dishes … but unloading the dishwasher? That’s my least favorite chore!.

I joined Community Choice Pediatrics (formerly known as Lee’s Summit Physicians Group) as a “not quite charter member” in 1986 and have thoroughly enjoyed my time practicing pediatrics in Lee’s Summit for more than three decades.Watching children and their families grow and seeing grandchildren — and perhaps even a great-grandchild or two — has been a humbling, rewarding and, at times, exhausting experience. And I would not trade it for the world!In addition to my passion for children and education, I enjoy music, reading and travel (at least before the COVID-19 pandemic.) My biggest regret is not recording all the funny, insightful, heartwarming and surprising things patients and parents have said. (I could have been working on a New York Times bestseller all these years.).

I have wanted to be a pediatrician since I was in high school, and I love what I do today. My immediate and extended family lives in the greater Kansas City area. I attended Blue Valley North High School. Out-of-state education aside, I have always wanted to be here and have no plans on leaving. I love the people, the sports, the choices of activities and the quality of life it offers.I have a wonderful wife, Dayna, who is dedicated to education. We have two teenagers who make us laugh and think. Most of all, they make us proud to be their parents. I will never forget when my youngest, who was three or four years old at the time, told people her Dad was a “pretty trashman!”I believe the most important part of my bio is how I describe what kind of person and doctor I am. First off, I am someone who learns from experience. Despite all the textbooks and journals I read, I’m at my best “in real life” when I see and treat my patients. During my education and career, I have been fortunate to see many rare diseases and conditions, and this experience enriches my practice today.

Dr. Henschel graduated from medical school in 2000 from the University of Kansas Medical School, and completed her residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2003. Dr. Henschel joined Community Choice Pediatrics (formerly Lee’s Summit Physicians Group) in 2003.

Recently, I was asked if I had not become a pediatrician, what type of medicine would I have chosen. I did not have an answer because pediatrics has always been my choice. My mother who was a pediatric nurse and my own pediatrician that I saw as a kid had profound influence on my career choice. I witnessed how they cared with such compassion for me as well as for children that were not their own.My Mom worked with chronically ill children while she herself dealt with her own chronic illness, Multiple Sclerosis. Dr Higgins was in the ER, waiting for my brother after he lost his hand in an accident and provided comfort for my family. With these influences, I knew they were who I wanted to emulate in my career.My undergraduate education started at Wayne State College in Nebraska and my Medical Degree is from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In 1998, I was drawn to Kansas City by Children’s Mercy Hospital for my pediatric residency. Mind you, I am a small-town girl so trying to navigate I-35 traffic as a brand-new MD was part of my education.My husband, Andy, has always been my rock and has been there through college, medical school, and residency. As our time for residency was coming to an end, we had fallen in love with KC and Lees Summit. So, with a 1-year old daughter at home, we started our next adventure when I started at Community Choice Pediatrics (Lees Summit Physicians Group) in November 2001.

Dr. Yannette graduated from medical school in 1998 from Saint Louis University School of Medicine and completed his residency in Pediatrics at the University of South Florida in 2001. Dr. Yannette joined Community Choice Pediatrics (formerly Lee’s Summit Physicians Group) in 2006.

I knew that I wanted to be a pediatrician while I was still in high school. I graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Nutritional Sciences before attending medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.I found myself in Indiana during the last two years of medical school, where I met my husband, Craig. With the help of Kansas City barbecue, I lured him home to KC, where I completed my residency at Children’s Mercy in 2015. I joined Community Choice Pediatrics straight out of residency because it felt like a practice where I could spend my career.My favorite part of being a pediatrician is getting to know my patients and their families. I enjoy partnering with them on a journey toward health and wellness. I commit myself to working hard, welcoming questions, explaining my thought process and finding answers when I don’t know them. I will always do my best to guide you in making the best decisions for your children to optimize their physical, mental and emotional health. In the process, you’ll find me drawing from my medical knowledge as well as my personal experience as a mom.In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Craig, and our two sweet boys, Paul and Danny. Our favorite things involve anything outdoors, but especially sporting events and visits to the park. When I get a quiet moment to myself, I enjoy reading, running, working in the yard and completing home improvement projects.

I chose pediatrics because kids are joyful, resilient and constantly surprise me. Pediatrics focuses on preventing illness from occurring, which is especially important for children. Developing healthy habits and learning to care for yourself at an early age leads to a healthy life, and it is my privilege to walk with families as we create these "futures" together.My favorite part of pediatrics is partnering with my patients and their families. As a doctor and parent, I bring both medical training and firsthand knowledge of all of the joys and challenges children create for their parents. I believe in educating patients and their families, so they feel empowered regarding their health and their children’s health.Outside of work, I love to spend time with my wife and son. He loves to explore the outdoors and tells me all about the birds, squirrels and other animals we see.I grew up in Southern California and moved to the Midwest for medical school and residency training. I graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Biology before going to medical school at Creighton University School of Medicine. I completed my residency training at Children’s Mercy Hospital. My wife and I love Kansas City and decided to stay and raise our family here.

Kailey Wilson is a Pediatrics provider in Lees Summit, Missouri. Dr. Wilson is highly rated in 8 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Delayed Growth, Sunken Fontanelles, Stork Bite, and Vascular Birthmark. Dr. Wilson is currently accepting new patients.

Adam Grumke is a Pediatrics provider in Lees Summit, Missouri. Dr. Grumke is highly rated in 6 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Obesity in Children, Delayed Growth, Croup, and Developmental Dysphasia Familial. Dr. Grumke is currently accepting new patients.

Quyen Dam is a Pediatrics provider in Lees Summit, Missouri. Dr. Dam is highly rated in 4 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Delayed Growth, Obesity in Children, Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS), and Familial Short Stature (FSS). Dr. Dam is currently accepting new patients.

Noel Graham is a Pediatrics provider in Lees Summit, Missouri. Dr. Graham is highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Scarlet Fever, Croup, Obesity in Children, and Delayed Growth. Dr. Graham is currently accepting new patients.

Jared Palfreeman is a Pediatrics provider in Lees Summit, Missouri. Dr. Palfreeman is highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Scarlet Fever, Croup, Developmental Dysphasia Familial, and Delayed Growth. Dr. Palfreeman is currently accepting new patients.

Mandi Menard is a Pediatrics provider in Lees Summit, Missouri. Dr. Menard is highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity in Children, Sunken Fontanelles, Delayed Growth, and Familial Short Stature (FSS). Dr. Menard is currently accepting new patients.

Ryan Fischer is a Pediatrics specialist and a Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Overland Park, Kansas. Dr. Fischer is highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Alagille Syndrome, Cholestasis, Biliary Hypoplasia, Hepatoblastoma, and Liver Transplant. Dr. Fischer is currently accepting new patients.

Tamara Peterson is a Pediatrics provider in Lees Summit, Missouri. Dr. Peterson is highly rated in 2 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity in Children, Delayed Growth, Increased Head Circumference, and Sprengel Deformity. Dr. Peterson is currently accepting new patients.

Julia Simmons is a Pediatrics provider in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Simmons is highly rated in 1 condition, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity in Children, Asthma in Children, and Delayed Growth. Dr. Simmons is currently accepting new patients.

Amanda Martin is a Pediatrics provider in Lees Summit, Missouri. Dr. Martin is currently accepting new patients.

Jyoti Panicker is a Pediatrics provider in Lees Summit, Missouri. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity in Children and Gastrostomy. Dr. Panicker is currently accepting new patients.

Brook Campbell is a Pediatrics provider in Lees Summit, Missouri. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity in Children, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Delayed Growth. Dr. Campbell is currently accepting new patients.

James Steffen is a Pediatrics provider in Kansas City, Missouri. His top area of expertise is Rotor Syndrome. Dr. Steffen is currently accepting new patients.

Sara Myers is a Pediatrics provider in Lees Summit, Missouri. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity in Children, Delayed Growth, Familial Short Stature (FSS), and Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS). Dr. Myers is currently accepting new patients.

I am a board-certified pediatrician who graduated from the University of Missouri with my undergraduate degree in 2000. I then went on to Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience for medical school, where I graduated in 2005.I did my pediatric residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. I finished residency in 2008 and started a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology. In 2009, with two young children, I decided general pediatrics was actually my passion. So, I transitioned to outpatient primary care and joined Lee’s Summit Physicians Group (now Community Choice Pediatrics), working primarily out of the Raintree location.When the Blue Springs location opened in 2010, I began working full-time there. I’ve been lucky to work with amazing families who have been with me for more than 10 years!I’ve been happily married for 18 years. My husband is a youth soccer coach, and we are both very invested in this community. I have four amazing and very busy children, so there is never a dull moment! I enjoy spending most of my time outside the office with my family, watching my kids’ sports activities and exercising with my husband.“It takes a village to raise a child” is an African proverb that means that an entire community of people must interact with children for them to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment. I feel privileged to be a part of my patients’ and their families’ “villages.”.