Meet our 2024 Living in Vitality Morning Breakout Speakers
- Rennie McKinney, LCP
-
Rennie McKinney is a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist who has dedicated her professional career to serving others, specifically focusing on those struggling with depression and thoughts of ending their lives. In her role as Administrative Director at AdventHealth, she oversees the amazing teams that provide care to individuals that are often experiencing the darkest points of their lives, due to mental illness and substance abuse. She is truly honored to be in this role. Rennie also serves on several boards, one of which is the Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition, where she believes a difference is being made in our community. Rennie loves being a wife and a mother of a Razorback.
- Kellie Strube LCPC
-
Kellie Strube is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who has been working in the field of Mental Health for the past 16 years. She attended the University of Kansas and received a double major in Psychology and Applied Behavioral Science with an emphasis in Juvenile Justice and Delinquency and went on to receive her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Avila University. Kellie has been providing care to patients in the Intensive Outpatient Program at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission for the past 10 years and is very passionate about her work. She really enjoys connecting with others, hearing their stories and teaching skills to help each person be the best version of themselves. Kellie resides in Overland Park KS with her husband, Zach, and her two sons.
- Candice McField
-
Candice McField is the founder of Candice McField Fitness, As for Me and My Body, and fightGLOBESITY. An ACE Certified Health Coach and fitness educator, she has more than 15 years of industry experience. Candice serves on the Kansas Governor’s Council on Fitness and is the host of “Conversations with Candice” on the Fox 4 Kansas City Morning Show. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Loyola Marymount University and an Executive MBA in Global Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
- Mary Carter, RD, LD
-
Mary Carter, RD, LD, graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, and completed her dietetic internship at Iowa State University.
She has over a decade’s worth of experience across nutrition counseling, weight loss, chronic disease, baby-led weaning, community health, nutrition deficiencies, and gut health.
She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Helping people is her passion - from individual consultations to meal planning, she enjoys working with people to better understand how to make healthier choices. In particular, she loves helping people feel energized, balanced, and optimal, so they can be their best self everyday. She believes nutrition impacts every aspect of life and wants to inspire people to make changes, have healthy relationships with food, and increase their quality of life. As a part of the Hy-Vee team, she looks forward to helping clients reach their goals, one step at a time. - Brit Moore, MD
-
Brit Moore, MD, is a Board-certified, fellowship-trained non-operative sports medicine and musculoskeletal medicine physician.
After completing her residency and fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Dr. Moore was recruited to stay on staff before making the decision to come back home to Kansas City to continue her practice. She was shaped by the multidisciplinary, patient-centered environment at Mayo, bringing the cutting-edge pursuit of knowledge and technique back to KC.
Dr. Moore sees both acute and chronic conditions involving tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints and nerve injuries of the upper and lower extremity. She focuses her practice on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal issues through the use of ultrasound and orthobiologic injections, using minimally invasive techniques.
Dr. Moore enjoys traveling, cooking, exploring new restaurants and pursuing new fun athletic activities (like Pickleball).
- Kenneth Unruh, MD
-
Dr. Kenneth Unruh was born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas and went to Shawnee Mission South High School. He graduated from the University of Kansas with the highest distinction, majoring in Chemistry and Philosophy.
He went to medical school at the Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minnesota. Following his time at the Mayo Clinic, he completed his orthopedic residency at Vanderbilt University where he was distinguished as Chief Resident for his final year. Dr. Unruh completed his hand, upper extremity and microvascular fellowship at the Indiana Hand and Shoulder Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is currently a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a certificate of additional qualifications in hand surgery.
Dr. Unruh returned home to serve the community of Kansas City. His clinical and surgical interests include all-inclusive care of the upper extremity from the elbow to the fingertip for adult and pediatric patients. This includes treatment of arthritis, trauma, compression neuropathies, arthroscopy, joint replacement and helping treat work-related injuries.
Dr. Unruh is married to his high school sweetheart, and they have 4 amazing children. His family is very active physically and in their church community.
- Adam Wait, DO
-
Dr. Adam Wait is from El Dorado, Ks. He completed his undergraduate degree at Ottawa University, where he was a member of their football team. He attended Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, graduating as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2005.
After an internship and residency in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he completed a sports medicine fellowship at the University of South Florida in 2011.
Dr. Wait is a sports medicine physician who focuses on the treatment of shoulders, knees, and hips using arthroscopic procedures. He is also skilled at managing a variety of fractures from orthopedic traumas.
Dr. Wait is the team physician for both Bonner Springs High School and for Ottawa University Athletics in Ottawa, Kansas. At Ottawa, he provides care, coverage, and educational opportunities for student athletes.
When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 children. He is a big believer in exercise and staying fit as a part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Angela Katzer, MSN, NP-C, IFMCP
-
Angela Katzer, APRN, NP-C, IFMCP, is an experienced nurse practitioner with the AdventHealth Whole Health Institute, where she leverages her expertise in functional medicine to provide holistic care. Certified as a nurse practitioner (NP-C) and by the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFMCP), Angela has been working as an advanced practice registered nurse since 2006. With a strong foundation in nutrition and additional certifications as a personal trainer, she is passionate about helping her patients achieve optimal wellness in a way that suits their individual needs. Her approach to wellness is comprehensive and personalized, ensuring her patients receive the best care possible. She is also deeply committed to women's health, having pursued specialized education in fitness during menopause.
Angela's dedication to health extends beyond the clinic, as she is an avid competitive triathlete and embraces all forms of exercise, including strength training, running, swimming, biking, yoga, Pilates, and hiking. She is a loving mother of three and is married. Her dedication to health and wellness inspires those around her, both personally and professionally.
- Michelle L Dew, MD, FACC
-
Michelle L Dew, MD, FACC, is a Board-certified Cardiologist with AdventHealth Medical Group Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery. She joined AdventHealth in 2022 to start A Women’s Heart Care program and currently provides general cardiology care to Shawnee Mission and Lansing-area patients. Her clinical interests include women’s cardiac issues, including during pregnancy and menopause; and both women and men’s general cardiac care such as prevention, maintenance and pre- and post-surgical care. Community education is a particular interest as well. In addition to having earned a reputation for providing excellent, compassionate patient care, Dr. Dew is well respected among her peers as a standout physician leader and cardiology expert. Her passion for patient education and her vast clinical and leadership experience have earned her countless honors, and she has published and presented extensively on various cardiology topics. Voted for several years as one of “Kansas City’s Best Doctors.”
- Dr. Nicole Kurlbaum
-
Dr. Nicole Kurlbaum’s goal in every appointment is to help her patients feel heard, listening to their needs as we put together treatment plans that meet their goals. She is passionate about restoring people’s smiles so they can feel confident again! Even if life has made it hard to visit the dentist, her attitude of non-judgement will make you feel welcome and cared for.
Dr. Kurlbaum graduated from KU with degrees in art and science, and before becoming a dentist, Dr. Kurlbaum was medical illustrator. She taught at the Kansas City Art Institute and her work has been published internationally. She uses her background as an artist every day with her patients.
Dr. Kurlbaum lives nearby with her husband, daughters, and lab-mix dog Zoey. In her free time, she likes to cook, color with her daughter, and make up bedtime stories!
- Lesley Hofer, APRN
-
Lesley Hofer, APRN, FNP-C, AOCNP, is an experienced certified nurse practitioner with the AdventHealth High Risk Breast Clinic. With more than two decades of oncology experience, she is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based patient care. Lesley discusses with each patient their individual risk for breast cancer, methods for increased surveillance for breast cancer, and strategies for reducing risks.
Lesley is an advanced oncology certified nurse practitioner and a certified family nurse practitioner. Additionally, she completed the intensive course in cancer risk assessment through the City of Hope and she is certified in Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Central Missouri.
Prior to her current role, Lesley's previous experience with the AdventHealth Cancer Institute (formerly known as the AdventHealth Cancer Center) included working in both inpatient and outpatient settings and coordinating the Cancer Center’s survivorship program.
In addition to her work in direct patient care, Lesley also serves as a preceptor for nurse practitioner students, nursing students and pharmacy students. She enjoys educating other clinicians and is committed to consistently pursuing her own continuing education.
- Elizabeth McLeod, MBA
-
Elizabeth McLeod serves as a Wealth Manager helping her clients maneuver the complexities of their financial life with the ultimate goal of maximizing their net worth. She acts far more comprehensively than an investment advisor, providing a complete array of services to encompass all aspects of her client’s financial life. Elizabeth’s tool kit includes retirement planning, tax planning, financial and estate planning, risk management and charitable planning in addition to investment management. She tailors her advice to each client’s personal situation and both short- and long-term goals.
Elizabeth has more than 30 years of investment experience working with banks, private trust firms and private money management firms. She acted as a partner for 17 years with an independent firm where she served high net worth individuals and families. Elizabeth has
achieved strong client loyalty by helping individuals set and achieve their goals. Elizabeth graduated with honors from the Executive MBA program at Rockhurst College and earned her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University.
Elizabeth and her husband, Roger, enjoy traveling, spending time with grandchildren and competing in agility trials with their Jack Russell Terrier, Stella. She is involved in various philanthropic activities in the Kansas City metro community and is on the Rockhurst Leadership Council. - Bri Peck, CFP
-
Bri serves as a Financial Planner, working directly with her clients to create and maintain a customized financial plan addressing all aspects of a healthy financial life, including investments, tax planning, risk management, retirement, employee benefits and estate planning.
With more than a decade of experience in the financial services industry, Bri offers her clients a truly comprehensive planning experience. Prior to joining Creative Planning, Bri served as a financial advisor at an independent firm, where she managed financial plan creation and execution for her clients.
Bri received her Bachelor of Science degree in personal financial planning from Kansas State University. She is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, as designated by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.
Bri and her husband, Quintin, enjoy going to concerts, watching movies and spending time with their niece, Danikya (whom they are legal guardians of), and their three dogs. - Christy Hansen, LSCSW
-
Christy Hansen, LSCSW, Grief Support Specialist at Kansas City Hospice, has served in a variety of roles at Kansas City Hospice including social worker and grief support specialist. She is currently a therapist with Solace House, KCH’s center for grief and healing for ages four and older. She loves working with individuals and families through times of loss and transition, as well as leading support groups. In her spare time, she enjoys walks with friends, garden vegetables and flowers, being outside and hanging out with her family.
Meet our 2024 Living in Vitality Afternoon Breakout Speakers
- Christine Khong, MD
-
Christine Khong, MD, is a Board-certified, bilingual family medicine physician with AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care at Prairie Village. She provides care for patients of all ages, from newborns to geriatrics, including caring for newborns in the hospital at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission. Dr. Khong has earned numerous honors for professional excellence, including membership in the Arnold P. Gold Humanism Honor Society, a peer-nominated honor bestowed on physicians who display exceptionally compassionate care to patients as well as a member of the Midwest Obesity Society. She also was awarded Resident Teacher of the Year upon completion of her residency. She joined AdventHealth Medical Group in 2020.
- Lisa Markley, MS, RDN, LD
-
Lisa Markley is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a practitioner of Culinary Medicine, where she masterfully blends the art of cooking with the science of nutrition to optimize overall wellness. By integrating the pleasure of eating with an understanding of how dietary choices affect metabolism, immune function, and chronic disease prevention, Lisa helps individuals to make informed dietary choices that enhance their overall health and vitality. Since joining AdventHealth Whole Health Institute in 2020 as the Director of Culinary Medicine, she has been instrumental in developing innovative educational programs centered on culinary medicine, nutrition, and wellness.
Schedule a visit with Lisa.
- Robyn Stevens
-
Our work and living spaces directly influence our energy, prosperity and happiness. From Fortune 500 execs to stay-at-home moms, Feng Shui expert Robyn Stevens helps people from all walks of life bring more happiness, creativity, love and abundance into their lives by transforming their home and work spaces.
A genius at breaking down the fascinating complexities of Feng Shui in an entertaining and simple way, Robyn is a frequent TV guest and a highly sought-after speaker. Certified in 2012, Robyn launched her business Robyn Stevens Feng Shui in 2013. She is a member of the International Feng Shui Guild.
- Kristen Thomas
-
Kristen Thomas is a Certified Sex Coach and Clinical Sexologist who brings extensive training from Sex Coach U, mentored by Dr. Patti Britton (the Mother of Sex Coaching), and holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Coach Kristen supports people with empowerment and learning through personalized advice, focused workshops, and speaking engagements. She is the monthly Sex and Relationship columnist for The Pitch Kansas City as well as the host of a podcast, both titled ‘Keep Them Coming’.
- Susie Gurley
-
Susie Gurley became a mental health advocate after her son, Will, started sharing his battle with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation publicly. In 2018 at the age of 15, Will founded the You Matter Festival, a music festival promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Will shared his personal mental health struggles with the 1,000 person crowd, which started his role as a local Kansas City teen advocate for mental health. Because of Will’s involvement, Susie recorded a video #Zeroreasonswhy (https://zeroreasonswhy.org), a Kansas City area organization working to end teen suicide in the Johnson County, Kansas area. This video was viewed over 10,000 times, which was the impetus of the Just A Mom podcast. Susie decided that she needed to follow the brave trail blazed by her son and become an outspoken advocate for parents of children who struggle with mental illness. The Just a Mom podcast launched in September of 2022, and features interviews with parents who have a child battling mental illness or substance abuse, those with lived experience, and mental health experts and organizations. The Just A Mom podcast currently has over 70 episodes available and can be found at https:// www.thejustamompodcast.com/ as well as iTunes, Spotify and all other major podcasting platforms. Susie serves on the Friends of Johnson County Mental Health Board. She has been married to her husband, Dan, for 32 years and has grown three children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law to be in December.
- Dr. Caroline Danda
-
Dr. Caroline Danda is a licensed child psychologist with over 20 years of experience and a mother of three, specializing in empowering youth and families to overcome challenges and build resilience. Her evidence-based approach integrates cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, and neuroscience, focusing on the mind-body connection. Dr. Danda's expertise covers supporting youth with "big emotions," anxiety, depression, ADHD, and behavioral issues. She co-authored "From Surviving to Vibing," offering practical resilience-building strategies for today's youth. With a background including studies at the University of Florida and specialized training at Children's Mercy Hospital and the University of Kansas, Dr. Danda brings a holistic, biopsychosocial perspective to her work, which extends beyond her practice through workshops, professional trainings, and writing.
- Megan Endres
-
Megan Endres has been serving patients and their families as a Clinical Coordinator with the Behavioral Health team at Advent Health for the past 15 years. She uses her skillset as a Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Master Addiction Counselor to come alongside struggling children, teens and adults and help guide them toward a life of wellness and recovery. Megan has served in many different therapeutic roles on the Behavioral Health team- she currently serves as a clinician in the emergency department and is passionate about caring for individuals in crisis. Megan also loves spending time with her husband Wesley and three children.
- Krista Boan
-
Krista Boan is the co-founder of the international nonprofit Screen Sanity, host of the Screen Sanity podcast and a former middle school teacher. Her current work is developing simple social media mentorship resources for tweens, which she shares through the Social Compass newsletter. Krista has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NBC with Diane Sawyer, and the New York Times. She lives in Kansas City with her husband and four t(w)eens.
- Officer Wes Griffith
-
Officer Wes Griffith presents to all types of groups of people whether social, civic or professional on a variety of topics including Scams and Fraud, Personal Safety and Active Shooter among other things. He is also trained in ALICE, providing specialized training for schools in Active Shooter events. Wes has been recognized with the CPP certification, which is a Certified Protection Professional. This certification is widely considered the ‘Gold Standard’ in the security arena.
Officer Griffith has been a Police Officer in Overland Park for the past 23 years. After having worked in a number of areas, including Patrol, Field Training Officer, Personnel, Recruiting and Explosive Ordinance Disposal. He is now a Crime Prevention Officer, where he has been for the past four years.
- Pastor Cheryl Bell
-
Cheryl Jefferson Bell is an ordained Elder in the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church. Formally an Electrical Engineer for 10 years, she received her calling to fulltime ministry in 1990.
She currently serves as an associate pastor at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church. She served in Congregational Care for almost 8 years and is currently serving as Pastor of Community Justice since June, 2020!
She is the proud mother of an adopted sibling group of 4 - Lisa (Jason); Keira (James); Creighton and Victoria and grandmother of 9 grandchildren - Sheyena, Jaylen, Michael, Elijah, Ashton, Amari, Noelle, Brittany and William.
- Dr. Rebeca Chow
-
Dr. Rebeca Chow is the Clinical Director of Counseling Services at Resurrection. Dr. Chow's areas of expertise are diversity and inclusion, neurobiology of mental health, leadership, supervision, and generational social trends.
- Lauren Cook
-
Lauren Cook is the Entry Points Director at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church. She oversees events, ministries and programs aimed at helping curious minds find a home in faith. Her passion is for creating safe spaces where people are seen, known, and loved. She is also a mom to Carolina Rae, wife to Austin, and host to anyone who knows about her monthly game night. She loves when her table, bookshelf, and coffee cup are full and her next travel destination is on the calendar!
- Ashley Huber
-
The Rev. Ashley Masoni Huber joined the AdventHealth team a year ago supporting its mission in ambulatory clinics and tending to provider well-being. Her 21-year career as an ordained pastor includes five years as a congregational pastor and 15 years as a board-certified bedside chaplain. Her specialties include palliative care, oncology, and senior care. She delights in reading and writing as well as riding her mountain bike in the woods. Her joy comes from her husband and two Australian cattle dogs.
- Dr. Jumesha Wade
-
Dr. Wade is the Founder and Principal at Dr. Jumesha Wade Coaching & Consulting.
Experiencing success as both a nonprofit executive and an entrepreneur, her unique lens
informs her skill in driving innovation and transformation for individuals and organizations.
Dr. Wade is an outdoor enthusiast and thought-leader on the intersections of mental health,
socio-emotional development, and environmental justice. As a textbook extrovert, making
connections is her superpower - especially for BIPOC leaders, military families, and wellness
practitioners. She naturally combines authentic, relational leadership principles and conscious
coaching to identify goals and architect strategy.
Dr. Wade consistently celebrates being married to her college sweetheart, Jordan Wade, and
their five beautiful children.