Dr. Rosemergey was appointed as Chair of the Department of Community and Family Medicine and Associate Chief Medical Officer for University Health Lakewood Medical Center in 2022. Prior to that Dr. Rosemergey served as Vice Chair for the Department for several years, Program Director for the Family Medicine Residency and Medical Director of several of the departments’ clinics. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and serves on the Board of Trustees for American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation – Center for the History of Family Medicine.

Dr. Rosemergey has practiced Family Medicine for >30 years. Within Family Medicine she has focused on education, ambulatory care, the Patient-Centered Medical Home and population health/health systems management. Dr. Rosemergey has a passion for advocacy and professional development. She has been on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians for many years and now serves as Vice-President of the MAFP. She is honored to have been awarded the inaugural Outstanding Female Leader Award from the Missouri Society of the American College of Family Physicians in 2023. Her greatest honor has been caring for multi-generational families over many years and being a part of their personal health journeys.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Rosemergey enjoys cooking healthful dishes and reading as well as being outdoors, especially lake time with family and friends.

Dr. Gibson was appointed Vice Chair for the Department of Community and Family Medicine 2023. The same year, she received the designation of Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. In 2021, Dr. Gibson was awarded the designation of Fellow of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (FAMSSM). Dr. Gibson works in the Dean’s Office at the UMKC School of Medicine directing faculty development. Dr. Gibson also serves as the Program Director of the UMKC Sports Medicine Fellowship

Dr Gibson has experience treating musculoskeletal conditions and medical conditions in athletes and individuals that are active. She works with amateur to elite athletes. She serves as the Medical Director for the Kansas City Marathon and the Hospital Hill Run and a team physician for Kansas City Athletics programs. In addition to treating patients in KC, she also travels internationally as an USA Volleyball Physician and a member of the US Ski and Snowboard Physician pool. She was the team physician for the KC Current from 2021-2023 and is still active with the medical task force for the National Women’s Soccer League. She is a team physician for Sporting (MLS). She has served on many committees for University Health and the UMKC School of Medicine. She is active in the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine through the education and fellowship committees. She edits the Best Practice in Sports Medicine textbook.

Dr. Gibson enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, watching sports (especially the UMKC Kangaroos) and spending time with her family.

In 2022, Dr. Wilson was appointed Program Director, UMKC SOM Family Residency at University Health Lakewood Medical Center.

Prior to joining UMKC, Dr. Wilson served as faculty practicing full-spectrum family medicine with obstetrics at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Dr. Wilson’s clinical interests include dermatology, women’s health, and evidence-based medicine, the latter of which he taught during the preclinical years at Brody School of Medicine. Dr. Wilson also feels honored to serve on the American Board of Family Medicine National Journal Club Committee.

Dr. Wilson is married to Bridgid Wilson, MD, PhD, who is also a Family Physician and together they have 3 young children. Outside of medicine, Lane and Bridgid enjoy exploring new activities with their kids and seeing things through their eyes. They can frequently be seen in the stands cheering at Sporting KC and KC Current games.

Dr. Gray is a local Kansas City native who grew up in Lee’s Summit. He attended Medical School at UMKC School of Medicine in the 6 year BA/MD program. He then continued training at UMKC for Family Medicine Residency and Sports Medicine Fellowship.

Dr. Gray serves as the Medical Director of the Bess Truman Family Medicine Clinic and Associate Program Director for the Family Medicine Residency.

Dr. Gray lives in the area with his wife, Dr. Emily Gray, an OB/GYN at UMKC, and daughters Madison and Olivia.  In his free time, Dr. Gray enjoys sports, BBQ, and fishing.

In 2011, Dr. Livingston joined University Health Lakewood Medical Center. Dr. Livingston currently sees patients in our Maternal Care Clinic and Family Medicine Clinic. In 2022, Dr. Livingston was appointed Associate Program Director for the Family Medicine Residency Program. In 2022, Dr. Livingston was appointed as Chair for University Health Lakewood Clinical Competency Committee. Dr. Livingston also serves on UMKC School of Medicine Faculty Council.

Dr. Livingston enjoys practicing the full spectrum of family medicine and the teaching of medical students and residents within the Family Medicine residency program.

Dr. Livingston was born and raised in Manhattan, KS. In her free time, Dr. Livingston enjoys reading, cooking, travel, snow and water skiing, scuba diving, running, biking/spinning, and practicing yoga.

Dr. Nikel serves as Associate Program Director of the Family Medicine Residency. Additionally, Dr. Nikel serves as the Section Chief of Behavioral Health for the department. Over her years on faculty, Dr. Nikel has been a member of numerous committees such as the UMKC SOM GME Wellness Committee, the UH Medical/Dental Staff Wellness Committee, and UMKC FM Residency Clinical Competency and Program Evaluation Committees. Nationally, Dr. Nikel has served as the chair of the STFM Professional Wellbeing Collaborative and a member of the STFM Workgroup on Destigmatizing Mental Health.

Dr. Nikel provides integrated behavioral health services to University Health Lakewood Medical Center patients. Additionally, she facilitates the integrated behavioral health training program at UH in which she teaches and supervises doctoral psychology students, pre-doctoral psychology interns, and postdoctoral psychology fellows in the practice of health psychology. Dr. Nikel enjoys working with patients during the perinatal and postpartum period, help to manage chronic diseases, and make positive lifestyle changes in addition to educating residents and students on behavioral medicine.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, traveling and hiking, and hand sewn embroidery. Embroidery has been a means of self-expression, wellness, and has become a traditional gift. Each year, Dr. Nikel creates a personalized embroidery for each graduating resident.

After graduating from University Health Sciences-College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Foote transitioned to active duty in the United States Navy He then completed a 1 year internship and then entered the Naval Aerospace Medical Institution to complete training as a Naval Flight Surgeon.  While in the Navy he had the pleasure of flying in jets as well as traveling the world to care for his fellow service members.

He returned stateside in 2009 and completed a residency in Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga.  Returning to Missouri in 2011, he joined Cox Health in Springfield spending 5 years on faculty at the Cox Family Medicine program.

In 2017, Dr. Foote returned to his Kansas City roots where he began working for the UMKC Family Medicine Residency as faculty, where he could continue his love of helping others become doctors.  He currently fulfills the roles of director of osteopathic education and occupational health medical director at University Health Lakewood Medical Center.

He lives with his wife (also a doctor) and three children, one dog, one guinea pig, one parrot, and an aquarium full of fish.  He enjoys roller blading, biking, and watching Anime with his family.

Stephen Vierthaler, MD received his medical degree from the University of Kansas.  He is dual boarded, having completed an OB/GYN residency at the University of Kansas and a Family Medicine residency at the University of Iowa.

In 2006, Dr. Vierthaler joined UMKC School of Medicine, the Department of Community and Family Medicine as an assistant professor.  At that time, he was also appointed as the Program Director for the Family Medicine Advanced Obstetrical Surgical Fellowship.  Dr. Vierthaler is also the Advanced Maternal Care Section Chief for the Family Medicine Faculty.

In 2010, he co-developed the Maternal Care Clinic and expanded the UHLMC obstetrical volumes.  In 2013, Dr. Vierthaler developed and expanded a laborist model of managing Labor and Delivering involving generalist Family Medicine faculty with delivery privileges.  In 2020, he co-developed with UMKC OBGYN department, a laborist model using Family Medicine faculty with advanced obstetrics privileges, supporting Family Medicine faculty with general delivery privileges.

In his time off, Dr. Vierthaler enjoys spending time with family, including children and grandchildren; and  travel.

Dr. Jennifer Groner received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1989.  She received her medical degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006.   She committed to doing volunteer work in New Mexico teaching English and Social Studies at St. Katherine’s Native American Indian School for a year.

Dr. Groner grew up in Jefferson City, MO and it only seemed fitting that she would go on to completed her family Medicine residency from the Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City, MO on June 30, 2009.

July 2009, she joined the medical staff at University Health Lakewood Medical Center as junior faculty and surgical obstetrical fellow within the Department of Community and Family Medicine of which she graduated from June 2010.  Dr. Groner has a faculty appointment with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine as Assistant Professor.

Dr. Groner enjoys practicing the full spectrum of family medicine and being involved in the teaching of medical students and residents within the Family Medicine residency program.  Dr. Groner has a great interest in women’s health but has found a new interest in Integrative Medicine.   She will be participating in a faculty development opportunity for the 2013-2014 academic year and completing a 200 hour online course, Prevention and Wellness: An Integrative Approach with the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.

Dr. Groner enjoys sewing and quilting.  As a new mother, she has developed a great interest in playing Thomas the Train with her 1 ½ year old son Matthew.

Dr. Angela Barnett has been weaving various experiences in the field of health and wellness into her personal and professional life for over 25 years. A long standing interest in nutritional approaches to healing and wellness inspired her to pursue a medical career with an open mind towards integrative complementary and lifestyle therapies. After completing her residency in Family Medicine at UMKC, she was chosen to complete a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine hosted by Dr. Andrew Weil, at the University of Arizona in Tucson. There, her expertise in integrative care solidified and she further developed her interests in restoring and maintaining health through the combination of traditional medical modalities and functional nutritional medicine, mind-body therapies, botanicals, and other complementary approaches. She has further trained in anti-aging and regenerative medicine.

Her approach to care is to develop individualized, client-centered programs that view health in the context of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance to facilitate wellness and achieve optimal healing. Academically, she enjoys teaching medical students and residents both Family Medicine and Integrative Medicine. She holds appointments as Associate Clinical Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Missouri in Kansas City.  Currently, she is serving as Medical Director and Associate Program Director for Truman Medical Center’s ongoing projects to develop Integrative Medicine Programs.

Dr. Matt Decker has gradually migrated west across Missouri, though was originally from the St. Louis Metro area.  He obtained degrees in English and Justice Systems from Truman State University before attending law school at the University of Missouri – Columbia.  He practiced as a criminal defense attorney in mid-Missouri until returning to school at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri and eventually medical school at the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

He completed residency in Family Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota where he also completed a fellowship in Hospital Internal Medicine. Dr. Decker is thrilled to be back in Kansas City and is excited to be rejoining many of his former teachers at University Health as well as the opportunity to serve as faculty for the residency program.  His professional interests include hospital medicine, medical education, procedures, and point-of-care ultrasound. In his free time, Dr. Decker enjoys rediscovering Kansas City alongside his wife, Alison, and their two daughters, Reese (7) and Taylor (18 months).  He is always open to trying a new craft brewery or taking in a Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC, or Mizzou game.

From a small town in Georgia, Helen started at Oxford College and completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology at Emory University. After graduation, she moved across the country where she earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from ATSU-School of Osteopathic Medicine Arizona and pursued a concurrent Master of Public Health from ATSU. Packing her bags again, Helen landed in the middle of the country where she completed her Family Medicine Residency and a yearlong advanced obstetric fellowship at UMKC in Kansas City, Missouri.

In July 2020, Dr. Helen Hill joined the Department of Community and Family Medicine as an Assistant Professor, at University Health Lakewood Medical Center. Helen’s special interests include maternity care, women and children’s health, teaching, and the intersections between community and individual health.

In her free time when she can’t travel, she enjoys reading for pleasure, gardening, sewing, and eating with friends. Her latest adventure in life is finding all the fun things to do with her new boxer-pit bull rescue.

David Voran, M.D., is an Associate Professor and Informatics Director of Community and Family Medicine at University Health Lakewood Medical Center and Collaborative Physician for CVS’s Minute Clinics in the Kansas City area. Prior to joining University Health, Dr. Voran was the Medical Director of the Innovation Clinic at Platte City for Heartland Health (Mosaic Life Care), Physician Executive for Cerner Corporation (2003-2006), the CMIO for Health Midwest (1997-2003) and the Executive Director of Information Technology at the University of Kansas Medical Center (1994-1997).

Over the last 8 years, Dr. Voran has piloted various workflows and technologies with emphasis on putting as much technology in the primary care physician’s exam room and patient’s hands as possible.  He is a strong believer patient engagement and patient-directed care.  He has aggressively promoted point of care imaging, ultrasound, dermoscopy, and cardiac evaluations using personal, digital tools any Family Physician can carry in a lab coat. He is vesting most of his time now incorporating Population Health tools at the point of care, implementing Remote Patient Management solutions including Apple Health’s Physician Dashboard. He is the Principal Investigator for UMKC’s Enhancing Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction from the CDC. He believes that until the patient is the primary user of the EMR, medical organizations will not fully realize the power of the clinical information systems in which they are now investing.

Dr. Voran received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the Wichita State University in 1974.  He earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1988 and post-graduate degree from University of Kansas – Family Practice in 1991.   He is board certified in Family Practice and is an active member of the American Academy of Family Practice. He was a member of the Academy’s ad hoc Committee on Electronic Medical Record. Dr. Voran is active in a number of professional organizations, is a past president for the Heart of America chapter of HIMSS and is on the Board of Trustees for the Kansas Foundation for Medical Care.

Dr. Pletz grew up in western Washington State, after living her first 8 years in Indiana and Minnesota. She graduated from medical school at the University of Washington (UW), where she also studied public, global, and indigenous health. She completed family medicine residency with UW-affiliated Tacoma Family Medicine She then practiced in Olympia, WA seeing her patients in clinic as well as continuing full-spectrum practice and teaching as associate residency faculty. In her growing love for residency teaching and mentoring she then transitioned to a core faculty position with an affiliated rural training program. She completed a UW faculty development certificate and became a diplomate in Lifestyle Medicine during this time as well.

Dr. Pletz is excited to join University Health Community and Family Medicine for its long track-record of rigorous mission-oriented family medicine training that includes patient-centered lifestyle and integrative approaches, as well as its genuine family feel. Outside of this, Dr. Pletz loves learning and getting to know people through listening and engaging big questions; outdoor adventuring; singing; reading; and doing all this and more with her husband and three young children.

Dr. Corcoran graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine in 2014. She then completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Colorado-Rose Family Medicine program. For another three years, she continued to practice in Denver before moving to Kansas City.

She loves providing care to the whole family and is particularly passionate about ensuring access to high quality medical care to underserved communities. From well visits and chronic disease management to maternity care and office based procedures, her passion for Family Medicine keeps her working to provide the best care and empower her patients to take charge of their own health. She is excited to be working with the passionate and skilled department of Community & Family Medicine at Truman.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Corcoran loves to get outside with her family, and when the weather’s bad she can be found knitting, baking or chasing her toddler around the house.

I grew up in rural Nebraska, and always wanted to do the full-spectrum of Family Medicine. I love to do it all, from delivering babies to seeing grandparents for wellness visits. I like to see a wide variety of patients, but do have a special interest in Women’s Health. My favorite place in the hospital is Labor and Delivery, however you can find me just about anywhere depending on the day. I look forward to helping care for you and your family!

Dr. Sandri grew up on a small farm north of Kansas City.  She stayed close to home for both undergraduate and graduate studies.  While attending William Jewell College she did research on colon cancer and tumor markers for three years. After receiving her BA in Biology, she attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Following medical school, she then joined UMKC for a residency in Community and Family Medicine at University Health Lakewood Medical Center.

Upon graduation in 2014, inspired by those who had trained and mentored her, she chose to stay at University Health Lakewood Medical Center.  Dr. Sandri joined the faculty in the OB Division of Family Medicine, where she now enjoys practicing family medicine and teaching both medical students and residents, with an emphasis on obstetrics and women’s health. The most satisfying aspects of her job are teaching others to be passionate about and advocate for women’s health, and helping expectant moms realize a safe, happy delivery after watching their pregnancy grow.

Dr. Venkatesan believes family physicians can have an outside impact on the health of their patients and their community in addressing acute issues and managing chronic conditions. That impact and the associated challenge of continuing to improve one’s skills and stay up-to-date on new diagnostics and treatments are what continue to draw him to family medicine. He is intrigued with applying advances in chronic disease management, particularly metabolic disease including diabetes and obesity. Dr. Venkatesan looks forward to reviewing ongoing published research to identify specific knowledge pearls that he can apply to his practice and share with colleagues and trainees.

Dr. Venkatesan will be serving as a primary care physician at the UHPC Lakewood Pavilion, Family Medicine Center, while also serving on Family Medicine Inpatient Services. Dr. Vekantesan will be Core Faculty for the UMKC SOM Family Medicine Residency Program; and serve on the FM Clinical Competency Committee.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Venkatesan enjoys spending time with his partner and greyhound Chico. He enjoys playing pickleball, trying out new breweries and restaurants, and traveling with his partner. Dr. Venkatesan is big into sports, particularly NBA, NFL, soccer, and tennis, and enjoys playing board games with friends.

Dr. Ahern taught high school biology and chemistry for 10 years. In 1978, she obtained a Juris Doctorate from UMKC, passed the bar exam and practiced law.

In 1987 on her 37th birthday, she became a medical student.  She was premed at MU and planned to attend medical school there. However, MU informed her they had met their quota of women (10 women out of 150 students)!  Therefore, she attended the University of Health Sciences.  After graduation in 1991, Dr. Ahern completed her residency at University Health Lakewood Medical Center, 1991-1994.

Dr. Ahern then practiced at Swope Parkway Comprehensive Health Center until 1999, at which time she returned to Truman Medical Lakewood; now University Health Lakewood Medical Center.

Dr. Ahern especially enjoy teaching the residents and following their progress as they gain experience and confidence. In her spare time, she enjoys cake decorating, snow skiing, reading and hiking.  She is the mother of 4 daughters, reared her nephew, plus multiple foster children and foreign exchange students.

Dr. Aguayo, a Missouri native, has lived in all four quadrants of the state. Although she calls St. Louis home, her family intends to make Kansas City home. She attended medical school at the University of Missouri – Columbia, better known as MIZZOU.

Dr. Aguayo felt strongly about two principles: 1. healthy families are built at home and 2. every family deserves a primary care physician able to and invested in supporting their health goals. She knew early on she was interested pregnancy care and mom-baby care after delivery which led her to advanced training in obstetrics at the University of Missouri – Kansas City here at University Health at Lakewood.

With the above principles in mind continuing to serve families at Lakewood Medical Center seemed like a great fit. She is able to provide whole family care at the Lakewood Medical Pavilion including labor and delivery.

Within medicine and beyond care of moms and babies, her interests include family-preservation, helping families end the foster care cycle and helping families afflicted by substance use disorders achieve stability for themselves and their children. Outside of the office she engages in local efforts to reduce health disparities and promote health equity.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Aguayo enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband enjoy dancing, traveling, playing soccer and watching their beautiful and active children grow and explore the world. A former gymnastics coach, she enjoys learning about the art of mentoring and coaching and applying this to the support of others on their journey no matter the destination in mind.

Dr. Brunner will be providing broad spectrum family medicine primary care at our University Health Community Care Grain Valley and at University Health Primary Care Lakewood Pavilion. Additionally, Dr. Brunner will be delivering her patients at University Health Lakewood Birthplace.

Dr. Brunner has had a lifelong desire to be a doctor, and believes in teaming with her patients, addressing health concerns with open communication and mutual respect. Her areas of clinical focus include family practice, obstetrics, women’s health and pediatrics.

I was born in San Jose, California and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. I attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and received a BS in Biochemistry. I then went on to attend KCU for both graduate school and medical school; graduating in 2019. I completed my intern year of residency at Cedar Rapids Medical Education Foundation in Cedar Rapids, IA and went on to complete residency at UMKC’s Family Medicine program. In July 2023, I completed my Fellowship year in Advanced Obstetrics training at UMKC. I live in Gladstone, MO with my husband (Josh), son (Oliver), and our golden retriever (Charlie). In my free time I enjoy planning supper clubs with my friends, drinking coffee, going for walks, sitting down with a good book, or planning our next home improvement project. 

I grew up an Iowa girl and in 2003 graduated from the University of Iowa, completing a bachelor of science degree in biology with a minor in art history. From there I traveled South to attend medical school at the University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine in Sint Eustatius, Netherland-Antilles, graduating with a medical degree in May 2007. I completed clinical rotations in Greeley, Colorado.

After medical school, I traveled north to the University of Wyoming in Casper, WY. It was there I completed my Family Medicine Residency in June 2010. I next had the opportunity to return to the Midwest again, and train at University Health Lakewood Medical Center, University of Missouri-Kansas City Obstetrics Surgical Fellowship in Kansas City, MO, from July 2010-June 2011.

Since 2011, I have been a full-time faculty member with the Department of Community and Family Medicine and hold a faculty appointment of Assistant Professor with the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

I enjoy hanging out with my family, traveling, scuba diving, scrapbooking, reading for fun and University of Iowa Football. Go Hawks!!!!

Dr. Lisa Grasing was born in New York City and grew up in New Jersey. After completing her Family Medicine Residency in NJ in 1997, she moved to Kansas in 1999 with her husband and 2 sons.

Dr. Grasing feels fortunate to be able to volunteer in the medical field and community while raising her family; and did some teaching as a Creighton Model Fertility Care Practitioner. She received additional training in women’s health and reproductive care as a medical consultant for NaPro Technology in 2007.

As a family physician, she is interested in caring for the whole person, promoting good health and helping in the healing process. I have experience with acute and chronic disease management including mental health, home visits and geriatrics. She enjoy caring for people of all ages.

Dr. Grasing chose University Health Lakewood Medical Center to be able to serve a diverse patient population with continuity of care in an academic center with excellent comprehensive care. Each patient encounter is an opportunity for listening, addressing concerns and shared decision making in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Her hobbies include jogging on scenic trails, music, knitting and reading. She treasures sharing meals with family and friends.  Active participation in the Catholic Church including bringing the Eucharist to those in the hospital and nursing homes is a passion of mine.

I try to foster open and honest communications, shared decision making and medical care guided by the best available evidence. I enjoy providing care to those who often need it the most, who have been disadvantaged for a variety of reasons and thus have not been able to get high quality care, often relying on ERs or inconsistent primary care follow-up. I also hope to make an impact on the community by helping to address the healthcare disparities that can have a negative effect on the social and economic disparity already present in low-income areas. I previously worked at Swope Health, a FQHC providing community based primary care from 2015 to 2022. Most recently worked for Spira Care, an insurance-owned primary care model. Excited to transition back to an organization that so closely aligns with my values!

Interests outside of work: Time with friends and family. Nesting in the century old home in Brookside that I share with my spouse and 2 cats. Chiefs football, Jayhawks basketball, KC Current soccer, music, travel, food (specifically, eating it!)

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Anna M Haynes, MD

Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, Department of Community & Family Medicine
Medical Degree: University of Minnesota Medical School Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
Residency: Family Medicine at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA

Anna (Annie) M. Haynes, MD, grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Brookside area.

Dr. Haynes went to undergrad and medical school at the University of Minnesota Twin cities.  She went on to complete residency at Harbor UCLA in Los Angeles.  For the past year, Dr. Haynes worked as a physician for the Bricklayer’s Union of St Louis, in their small on-site clinic.

Dr. Haynes is joined by her fiancée Ashley, who is a Women’s Health nurse. They have a 1 year old dog named Boo, who is an Australian Shepard mix. They recently bought their first home in the Waldo area, so most of their free time is spent doing small renovation projects. Dr. Haynes also love reading, writing, brewing beer and trying out new coffee shops.

Dr. Haynes moved back to Kansas City to be closer to family; and she was looking for a clinic setting that valued Family Medicine and Community Health and that was committed to serving all patients

Dr. Rachel Holt was born in St. Joseph, Missouri but has lived in the Kansas City area since middle school. Dr. Holt went to medical school at the UMKC 6 year program. After that, she completed her Family Medicine residency training at Goppert Family Care Center at Baptist Medical Center – what is now the Research Family Medicine program.

Dr. Holt practiced at St. Luke’s North for a little over 10 years before deciding to work at the onsite clinics at a Cerner campus. She worked there for almost 9 years before there was a decision to permanently close all of the onsite clinics and pharmacies at the Cerner campuses. Dr. Holt then explored various options and felt that University Health was a great opportunity. She is excited to start working at University Health.

Dr. Holt lives in the Parkville area with her husband (Todd), their three children (Lucas, Cody and Ethan) and their many pets (1 dog, 2 cats, 2 bearded dragons, and fish). She loves warm weather and summer months. Despite living her entire life in the Midwest, she still does not like the cold and Midwest winters. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, going on walks or scenic bike rides, reading, watching her kids in sports and theatre, listening to podcasts, watching true crime shows and spending time with family and friends. During her time off after the clinic closed, she traveled to the east coast (New York City, Boston), Europe (Spain, Gibraltar, France and Italy) as well as the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon and Canada) 

I graduated from the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. After Medical School I worked in camps for Internally displaced persons in the country. This is where I developed a profound appreciation, not only for undeserved care but also for public health. I went on to complete a residency in family medicine followed closely by a master of public health, board certification in medical quality  and a second residency in General Preventive medicine and Public health at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB).

I teach the community medicine curriculum at UMKC and do clinical work at Swope Health Services (a federally qualified health center). My areas of interest are women’s health, Preventive Medicine and Public Health. The idea is to adopt an innovative approach in both clinical practice and teaching; focused on the social and structural determinants of health.

In 2024, Dr. Jennifer Kaberline joined University Health Community Care Grain Valley, as a primary care physician for patients of all ages.

Dr. Kaberline chose family medicine because it provides the opportunity to care for people of all ages, and to build lifelong relationships with patients. Family medicine also keeps you on your toes with a variety of different conditions. Dr. Kaberline’s interests include care of the underserved, addiction medicine and women’s health.

In her free time, you will find her with her family or outdoors. Dr. Kaberline loves to hike, especially at Rocky Mountain National Park, a place she holds close to her heart. She also enjoys riding her bike and going on long walks with her rescue beagle, Cooper. Playing soccer for most of her childhood, she has a love for the US national teams, Sporting Kansas City, and Kansas City Current.

Dr. Ed Kraemer is an assistant professor in the Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Missouri – Kansas City, where he is engaged in teaching medical students, physician assistant (PA) students, and residents. He serves as Medical Director of the UMKC PA Program, supervising faculty for UMKC’s Sojourner Student-run Free Clinic in Kansas City, and chair of the University Health Lakewood Medical Center Ethics Committee.

Dr. Kraemer’s community involvement includes active participation in the Livable Streets Advisory Board and Health Education Advisory Board in Lee’s Summit and the Jackson County Health Department’s “Building a Healthier Jackson County” initiative. He serves on the Board of Directors of both the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians and the Kansas City Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Kraemer received a B.A. in Biology from University of Nebraska Omaha in 1979, his medical degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in Omaha in 1987, and his residency training certification from the UMKC Community and Family Medicine Department in 1990. He also earned a graduate teaching certificate in Health Professions Education from UMKC in 2015.

He enjoys family time, bicycling, swimming, iPhone photography, and yoga.

I was born and raised in New Jersey. I completed my education on the east coast, graduating with my BA at Cornell University in 2012 and my MD at the University of Virginia in 2017, before moving to the Midwest to continue my medical training. I completed my family medicine residency at University Health Lakewood Medical Center in 2020, and I am super excited to be rejoining the TMC family as a faculty member in the Department of Family Medicine. I cannot wait to start this new chapter in my medical career, working with medical students and residents, and being a part of educating new generations of doctors!

Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our ever-growing mischief of adopted pet rats, exploring new hikes and trails, and visiting all the animals at the Kansas City Zoo!

Dr. Mathis was born and raised in Liberty, Missouri. She attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri for her undergraduate degree in Biology and then graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine with her M.D in 2015. She met and married her husband Chris while at St. Louis University, and they both completed residency in Pediatrics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Although they loved the Michigan weather, they moved back home to Kansas City following residency in 2018.

Dr. Mathis holds a faculty appointment of Assistant Professor with the University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Medicine. Outside of medicine she enjoys running, hiking, skiing, reading, and cheering for the Chiefs and Royals. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family, including her one child and her dog “Moose.”

Growing up in Florida, I stayed close to home for college, attending the University of Central Florida. There, I earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 2000, graduating magna cum laude. Four years later, I graduated from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in 2004. As a medical student, I spent a year living in Ireland, completing several rotations there. When I began residency at the Eau Claire Family Medicine Residency Program, a campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Family Medicine, an interest in maternity care developed early on. During my time in residency, I involved myself heavily in community service. In my third year, I was privileged to receive the McGovern-Tracy Scholars Award for community service and leadership, presented to a select few University of Wisconsin medical students and residents each year. I graduated from residency in Family Medicine in 2007, and earned board certification that year. My interest in maternity care continued with a fellowship in Maternal Child Health at West Suburban Medical Center, just adjacent to the west side of Chicago, Illinois. This was a valuable year for my professional development, as I continued to grow as a physician and teacher. There, I received training in cesarean sections, high risk obstetric management, and neonatal care.

After completing the fellowship training in 2008, I married my wife Sally that fall, who grew up in Kansas City. We decided to settle down close to her family, and so that she can complete her graduate studies at KU Medical Center. I started at University Health Lakewood Medical Center and UMKC in December, 2008. Since that time, I have been excited to contribute to the instruction in maternity care for our family medicine residents and surgical OB fellows. Other activities with the residents include Journal Club once a month and a Board Review once a week.

In 2009, I co-founded a non-profit organization called The Medina Clinic Inc., which is currently a 501(c)(3), faith-based clinic, dedicated to providing affordable outpatient primary care services to the uninsured and under-insured population of Jackson County, MO.

Dr. Rastogi grew up in Blue Springs, MO and then attended UMKC in the six-year combined BA/medical school program. She completed her pediatric residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011. She has worked in many different healthcare settings including college health and private practice. In June 2019, Dr. Rastogi joined University Health Lakewood Medical Center. 

Dr. Reilly is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. She has been board certified in pediatrics since 1993, and was part of the University Health Lakewood Medical Center staff until 2004. She then spent time working as a medical review officer and in a free clinic, volunteering with various school and community organizations and enjoying her own three children. She returned to University Health Lakewood Medical Center in 2019 and is and Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. She enjoys teaching medical students and residents and caring for children of all ages.

I was born and raised outside of Philadelphia. I completed my undergraduate degree at Syracuse University and my medical degree at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. I did my family medicine residency in Reading, PA and then moved to Miami, FL to complete my sports medicine fellowship. I worked for two years in St. Louis as a Sports medicine physician where I found my love of teaching while working with the internal medicine residents.

As a medical student I did a rotation at University Health and fell in love with Kansas City. I am very excited to be coming back to University Health Lakewood Medical Center to educate the next generation of physicians.

Outside of medicine I enjoy camping, hiking, traveling the world, and spending time with my family and my dog.

Dr. Jinming Song is a family medicine doctor with University Health Community Care Raytown clinic for over 10 years, where is he engaged with direct patient care.

Dr. Song enjoys family time, nature, sightseeing, biking, and swimming.

Dr. Shaffer joined the UMKC Dept. of Community and Family Medicine as a resident in 1992 and became faculty in 1995 after completing his residency. He served as UMKC Family Medicine Program Director from 2002-2017. In 2007, he helped create the first ever integrated residency/MBA program in the country: UMKC/Rockhurst MBA in Physician Healthcare Leadership and completed the degree with a cohort 5 of his residents.

Dr Shaffer’s interests include POCUS, simulation, healthcare strategic planning, quality improvement, e-learning, adult education improvement, and its outcome measurement for residents, students and practicing physicians. His passion is training residents for rural, underserved, and missionary medicine.

He was elected in 2020 and currently serves as a Board of Director for the American Academy of Family Physicians- the third largest physician medical society in the nation serving over 140,0000 members.  He serves on multiple commissions and committees for the AAFP.  He regularly appears on local and national Radio, TV and online broadcasts for health related topics.

He currently serves the USMLE for patient safety and healthcare quality items authoring. He continues to advocate for the health of Missourians with yearly visits to Jefferson City meeting with elected representatives and also yearly visits to Washington DC meeting with statewide elected officials.

He served the board of AFMRD for 7 years and is past president -Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors (the national program director membership organization). He is served as chair of CAFM (Council of Academic Family Medicine) which is the council of leadership from all four national Family Medicine education organizations: ADFM, AFMRD, NAPCRG, and STFM. He is past president of the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians and Missouri’s State Delegate to the AAFP for 6 years. He has been a member of the MAFP Education Committee for over 20 years. His other medical business interests include international health tourism, lean management, six sigma, and logistics and process efficiencies.

He served as Chief of Women’s Healthcare at University Health Lakewood Medical Center for 16 years and continues to serve the MO Department of Health as the Cervical Cancer Physician Liason. He is a Fellow in the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology and has received their highest award for special knowledge in colposcopy. He presents regularly on pap smear management, HPV vaccination, colposcopy, and perineal repair at residency, state and national venues.

Dr Shaffer is a AOA (Alpha Omega Alpha) member at the MU Medical School Chapter. In 2011 he was awarded with the AFMRD’s “Gold Program Director Award” (their highest achievement award) and was recently honored by the MU SOM alumni association as “Young Physician of the Year”. He was also honored by Rockhurst University with the “Outstanding Service Award” in the Physician Leadership MBA program from the Helzberg School of Management.

Dr Shaffer and his wife Brandy have five children: Olivia, Alec, Ian, Emily, and Ean. In their spare time, they enjoy a lot of outdoor family activities: hiking, boating, snow/water skiing and wakesurfing.

Dr. Steffen completed an M.D. degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the University of North Carolina. He completed a residency in Pediatrics from the University Of Wisconsin. He is Board Certified in Pediatrics. He has been involved in Resident education since completing his residency over 25 years ago. 

He is strongly committed to serving the underserved and Hispanic community.

He treats all newborn and general pediatric conditions including many behavioral and mental health conditions.

He lives with his family in Lee’s Summit with large extended family locally.

Dr. Rebecca Turner is a family medicine doctor with University Health Community Care Raytown clinic for nearly 20 years, where is she engaged with direct patient care. She has provided inclusive family medical care in Raytown for 30 years, first in private practice for 30 years and then with the Department of Community & Family Medicine, University Health Lakewood Medical Center since 2003. She has a strong interest in integrative medicine and healthy living.

She is an active supporter of the Raytown community through REAP, Raytown C-2 school district, and other organizations. She is also a supporter of Heart-to-Heart International, Cultivate Kansas City, and the Thomas Hart Benton branch of the Sierra Club.

She is a lover of the outdoors in search of a hiking trail with no mobile signal.

Dr. “Rose” is a Kansas native but crossed the border to attend undergrad and medical school at UMKC, graduating in 1982.  Serving as chief resident, she completed her Family Medicine residency at University Health Lakewood Medical Center and continued as faculty until the present time.

She practiced the full scope of Family Medicine in the DFCM’s rural office prior to returning to the main University Health Lakewood Medical Center campus to develop the medical student education program for the UMKC SOM.  As pre-doctoral director, she has had the privilege to work with thousands of students, sharing her love for and appreciation of Family Medicine.  She has had the opportunity to teach the majority of graduates from the residency, and has been a part of the department’s advancement and maturity.

One of the many highlights of being at University Health Lakewood Medical Center is the opportunity to teach and practice medicine alongside her husband, Bruno Zwerenz, M.D., psychiatrist and University of Missouri graduate. Together, they share the pride of two adult children and six grandchildren, competition of sailing, and the adventure of world travel.  They are, however, a house divided on MU and KU game days.