Dr. Shauna Michelle VanDoren on Awakening Health: The Evolving Journey

In the world of pediatrics, certain clinicians carry a rare blend of depth, compassion, curiosity, and adaptability—qualities that allow them to move seamlessly across specialties while keeping the wellbeing of children at the heart of every choice. Dr. Shauna Michelle VanDoren, DO, FAAP, is one of those physicians. Her professional life has been defined not by a single lane, but by a commitment to meet children and families wherever they need her most—whether in urgent care, hematology/oncology, hospital medicine, primary care, or now, pediatric sleep medicine.

Her career reflects not only her capability, but also her courage: to learn more, to serve differently, and to keep evolving in pursuit of the best possible care for children.

Building the Foundation: Nursing, Medicine, and Early Clinical Leadership

Dr. VanDoren’s journey began long before medical school. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Baptist College of Health Sciences in Memphis in 1999. Working as a Bone Marrow Transplant nurse at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she developed the clinical intuition, emotional resilience, and patient-centered focus that would later become the core of her work as a pediatrician.

Her years at St. Jude laid a powerful foundation—exposure to high-acuity care, multidisciplinary teamwork, and the deep humanity of caring for children and families facing life-threatening illness.

She later served as a Bone Marrow Transplant Clinical Coordinator at Children’s Mercy Hospital, further expanding her leadership and systems-level understanding of pediatric care.

These early experiences didn’t just prepare her for medicine—they shaped her into a clinician who sees the whole child and the whole family, not just the diagnosis in front of her.

Becoming a Physician: Training at Children’s Mercy Hospital

Dr. VanDoren earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2008 from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, then completed her Pediatrics residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital (2008–2011). Her residency years were marked by deep clinical curiosity, a love for teaching, and an early commitment to understanding complex pediatric presentations.

She remained at Children’s Mercy as a Pediatric Hospitalist in Hematology/Oncology and later transitioned into urgent care, where she spent more than a decade supporting families through some of the most stressful moments of childhood illness. Her urgent care work—spanning the Northland, Blue Valley, and multiple independent contractor roles—allowed her to remain closely connected to general pediatrics and the real-world needs of families.

Her ability to manage acute concerns with calm, clarity, and clinical precision made her a trusted physician to countless parents across the region.

Private Practice and Community-Centered Pediatric Care

Between 2015 and 2021, Dr. VanDoren also served as a walk-in pediatrician at Johnson County Pediatrics, an affiliate of Children’s Mercy. This role brought her into the heart of community pediatrics, where she cared for everything from newborn concerns to chronic issues to school-age challenges.

Her commitment to accessibility—meeting families where they are, at the moments they most need guidance—became a defining feature of her practice.

A New Chapter: Sleep Medicine and the Future of Pediatric Wellness

In 2024, Dr. VanDoren began a new professional chapter, returning to Children’s Mercy for a Pediatric Sleep Medicine fellowship. Sleep is foundational to childhood development, behavior, learning, and overall health, and she recognized the growing need for clinicians who understand the nuances of pediatric sleep disorders.

In 2025, she joined the Sleep Medicine faculty at Children’s Mercy Adele Hall, expanding her reach as both a clinician and educator.

Her growing expertise already includes:

• Behavioral sleep issues

• Sleep-disordered breathing

• Neurologically complex sleep challenges

• Obesity-related sleep conditions

• Sleep concerns in genetic and developmental disorders

She also sat for both the sleep medicine and obesity medicine board exams, demonstrating her commitment to understanding the full physiologic landscape of children’s health.

Leading Innovation: The INSPIRE Program for Children With Down Syndrome

One of Dr. VanDoren’s most significant upcoming contributions is the creation of the INSPIRE program, a specialized sleep program designed for pediatric patients with Down Syndrome.

Children with Down Syndrome often face unique sleep-related challenges due to airway differences, hypotonia, and comorbid medical conditions. INSPIRE aims to:

• Provide specialized, multidisciplinary sleep evaluations

• Offer personalized treatment plans

• Improve long-term health, behavior, and development

• Support caregivers with education, resources, and clarity

This initiative reflects Dr. VanDoren’s passion for innovation, equity, and delivering care that truly meets children where they are.

Academic Contributions and Research

Dr. VanDoren is also contributing meaningfully to scholarship and professional education. Her upcoming and recent presentations include:

• Pediatric Sleep Medicine in Urgent Care (2025 Webinar)

• Scoring Large Muscle Movements in Pediatric Sleep Studies (Poster, 2025)

• Macroglossia in Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (Poster, 2025)

• Case-based and teaching presentations dating back to her residency

Her research contributions include a notable publication in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society on antibiotic-associated adverse drug reactions in children (2019), reflecting her dedication to safe antimicrobial stewardship.

She also serves on the University Health Sleep Fellowship Committee, helping shape the training of future sleep specialists.

A Career Rooted in Service

Throughout every stage of her career, Dr. VanDoren has excelled in roles defined by service, adaptability, and compassion:

• Pediatric urgent care

• Hematology/oncology inpatient care

• Community pediatrics

• Sleep medicine

• Program creation and innovation

• Clinical coordination and nursing leadership

This breadth of experience gives her a uniquely comprehensive view of pediatric care—one that considers not only acute illness or chronic disease, but the full developmental, behavioral, and environmental context surrounding each child.

Professional Memberships

Her professional affiliations include:

• American Academy of Pediatrics

• American Academy of Sleep Medicine

These memberships reflect her ongoing commitment to clinical excellence and evidence-based practice.

IMPACT ahead: A Future of Possibility

When asked what comes next, Dr. VanDoren’s answer is simple: “So many things.”
She is a physician who sees both the gaps in the system and the opportunities within them.

Whether shaping innovative sleep programs, expanding obesity and sleep medicine integration, or serving in leadership roles that uplift future clinicians, her future contributions promise to be meaningful, multidimensional, and deeply impactful.

Dr. Shauna Michelle VanDoren represents the best of pediatric medicine: a clinician who evolves, innovates, and continually invests in the wellbeing of children and families. Her career is a testament to commitment, compassion, and the belief that every child deserves a chance to rest well, heal fully, and thrive.