2026 Investiture Ceremony

Through extraordinary donor investment, endowed positions provide ongoing financial support to advance excellence in pediatric medicine, research, and teaching, while elevating the academic profile of Children’s Mercy and its stature as a national leader. The impact: best-in-class experts and care for children and families who call Kansas City and our region home.

Honorees and Donors

Honoree: Brenda Rogers, MD — Dr. Sidney F. Pakula Endowed Chair in Graduate Medical Education

Brenda Rogers, MD, is the Chair of Graduate Medical Education and Designated Institutional Officer at Children’s Mercy Kansas City and Associate Dean for Children’s Mercy at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. She holds the academic rank of Professor at the UMKC School of Medicine. She is an Internal Medicine-Pediatrics physician in the section of General Academic Pediatrics.

A native of Kansas City, Kan., Dr. Rogers earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s combined Baccalaureate-MD program. She began her combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency training at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., however transferred to complete her training at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine after marrying her husband. She is also a graduate of the Children’s Mercy Bioethics Certificate Program. 
While maintaining her clinical practice, she has pursued her passion for medical education. Teaching and working with students, residents and fellows in the clinical setting provides her with opportunities to provide mentorship and promote changes to enhance the educational experience. Her collaborative approach, institutional knowledge and learner-centered style strengthen the educational mission of the GME department.

Prior to her role in GME, she served as program director of the UMKC Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program, co-medical director at Children’s Mercy Family Health Partners, associate dean of student affairs at the UMKC School of Medicine, President of the national Group on Combined Baccalaureate-MD Programs, and section chief of the joint University Health-Children's Mercy division of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics. She currently serves as vice chair of the University Health Ethics Committee and continues to work with residents weekly in the clinical setting.

Her role in GME encompasses the development and support of learning for students, residents, fellows, faculty members, and staff. In addition to oversight of learning for students, residents, and fellows, the GME office provides educational support for faculty members and staff through the offices of Faculty Development, Continuing Medical Education, and Library Services. 

Donor: The Louis H. Gross Foundation, Inc. Dr. Lawrence Pakula, a Director

The late Dr. Sidney Pakula was one of the hospital’s first medical residents. Working with Dr. Herbert Wenner, he authored an important study of the medical staff and teaching faculty during a pivotal and challenging time in the hospital’s history. What followed was the hiring of the hospital’s first medical director and the important work of restoring full accreditation of Children’s Mercy as a teaching hospital.

Dr. Pakula went on to private practice as a pediatrician, taking care of several generations of children in Kansas City who affectionately thought of him as “their doctor.”

In 1971, Dr. Pakula returned to Children’s Mercy full time in ambulatory pediatrics, teaching at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and offering sage advice to medical students and staff.

Dr. Pakula’s son, Dr. Lawrence Pakula, who is retired from John’s Hopkins in Baltimore, where he also had a thriving private practice, along with Dr. Pakula’s brothers, established the Dr. Sidney F. Pakula Endowed Chair in Graduate Medical Education to honor Dr. Pakula’s longstanding commitment to medicine and medical education.

Honoree:  Jordan Jones, DO, MS, FAAP, FACR — Underdown Yeomans Family Endowed Professorship in Connective Tissue Disorders Care

Dr. Jones is a board-certified pediatric rheumatologist at Children’s Mercy. He is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Dr. Jones completed medical school at Des Moines University and his pediatric residency at the University of Kansas – Wichita, as well as a pediatric rheumatology fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and a Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Research at the University of Cincinnati. 

Dr. Jones serves as the medical and research director of the Joint Hypermobility and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Center of Excellence at Children’s Mercy. His research focus includes awareness, education and management of joint hypermobility and novel screening for diagnosis and treatment of Down syndrome-associated arthritis.

Donors: Kim and Rod Underdown and the Underdown and Yeomans Family 

Kim and Rod Underdown have been blessed throughout their entire life with support from their loving families, strong educational and career opportunities, and two incredible children. The family’s giving has included a combination of each member’s time, talents and treasure.

At the same time, Kim and Rod have been directly impacted by the struggles a family feels when health challenges remain undiagnosed. They believe, in many instances, answers for patients and their families are attainable if more resources are available to provide a combination of care and research to solve healthcare problems in situations where far too little is known. They also understand the significance of advocacy for other families in similar situations where complex and specialty care is greatly needed.

Through their own experiences at Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City, where the family has been patient, parent and volunteer, Kim and Rod have sought ways to support families during some of their most difficult times. They hope that through the Children’s Mercy Research Institute, ground-breaking genome discoveries and therapies will transform care of children with connective tissue disorders everywhere.

Honoree: Kathryn Keeler, MD - Dr. Brad and Dawn Olney Chair in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery 

Kathryn Keeler, MD is a respected pediatric orthopedic surgeon and leader dedicated to advancing care for children with complex musculoskeletal conditions. She serves as Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Children’s Mercy, where she has helped shape innovative programs and expand access to specialized orthopedic care for children and families across the region.

Dr. Keeler earned her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed her orthopedic surgery training and pediatric orthopedic fellowships through Washington University in St. Louis and Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware. Before joining Children’s Mercy in 2013, she served on the faculty at Washington University and St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

At Children’s Mercy, Dr. Keeler has been a driving force behind several key initiatives, including serving as Medical Director of the Complex Movement Disorders & Spasticity Clinic. She also played an important role in the hospital’s achievement of Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center designation from the American College of Surgeons, making Children’s Mercy the only ACS-verified Pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center between St. Louis and Denver.

Known for her collaborative leadership and commitment to excellence, Dr. Keeler is passionate about improving outcomes for children through clinical care, education and innovation.

In addition to her work at Children’s Mercy, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, helping to educate and mentor the next generation of physicians.

Through her leadership, teaching and patient-centered approach, Dr. Keeler continues to advance pediatric orthopedic care and improve the lives of children and families.

Donors:  Dr. Brad and Dawn Olney 

After a career spanning more than 35 years — including 18 years leading orthopaedic surgery at Children’s Mercy — and innumerable contributions to generations of families in our community, Brad Olney, MD, is retiring at the end of December. This is not before making one final and impactful investment in the future of orthopaedic care at Children’s Mercy.

Dr. Olney and his wife Dawn have made a generous gift to establish and endow the Dr. Brad and Dawn Olney Chair in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery. Of the decision, Dr. Olney states, “Children’s Mercy is a truly special place. It has made so much possible for my wife and I both professionally as well as personally. We felt this was one way we could give back to an organization that has given us so much.”

Dr. Olney joined Children’s Mercy in 2002 as Chief of the Section of Orthopaedic Surgery. At that time, the Orthopaedic section had three orthopaedic surgeons. Under Dr. Olney’s leadership, the section continued to grow and in 2017, the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery become the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Science.

Today, the department boasts 17 physicians, including 10 pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, two hand surgeons, one non-operative orthopaedic physician and four pediatric-trained sports medicine physicians.

Honoree: Sherwin Chan, MD, PhD — Gallagher Family Endowed Professorship in Excellence

Sherwin Chan, MD, PhD is a pediatric radiologist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, where he serves as Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Radiology and Director of Research for the University of Missouri–Kansas City Department of Radiology. He is also a Professor of Radiology at UMKC. 

Dr. Chan earned his MD and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, following undergraduate training in engineering and life sciences at Queen’s University in Canada. He completed residency in diagnostic radiology at the University of Washington and fellowship training in pediatric radiology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

A nationally recognized leader in pediatric imaging, Dr. Chan’s work focuses on advancing quantitative imaging and innovative diagnostic techniques to improve outcomes for children with complex diseases. He has led multiple multicenter clinical trials and serves as principal investigator on a range of federally and industry funded studies. His scholarly work includes more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and influential contributions to national guidelines, including the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria.

Dr. Chan is widely respected for his national leadership. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the American Board of Radiology as the pediatric radiology trustee, where he contributes to certification standards and the future direction of the specialty, reflecting a strong commitment to professional service and advancing physician quality. He is also a leader within the Society for Pediatric Radiology, serving as President of the SPR Research and Education Foundation, an organization dedicated to funding innovative research and educational initiatives that advance the care of children through imaging.

His work has also been recognized by patient advocacy communities, including an award from the NEC Society for contributions to advancing research and awareness in necrotizing enterocolitis — a distinction that is particularly meaningful and rare for a radiologist, reflecting direct impact on patients and families affected by this devastating disease.

Through his clinical, academic and leadership efforts, Dr. Chan is dedicated to transforming pediatric imaging and improving the quality and effectiveness of care for children.

Donors: Diane and Terrence Gallagher and Family

In 1994, as a young married couple, Terry and Diane Gallagher moved to Kansas City from Detroit, expecting to stay a few years. That plan changed into a building a family here in the Heartland with their three daughters, Jillian, Elizabeth and Mary Katherine.

Elizabeth was their “millennial baby” born at the turn of the century. She missed the usual milestones that you write in a baby book. She suffered her first seizure — and first hospitalization at Children’s Mercy — at 14 months old. That was the first of countless lengthy inpatient stays, surgeries, intubations and health crises.

Ultimately diagnosed with Angelman’s Syndrome when she was 10, Elizabeth had significant and complicated medical and developmental challenges and was unable to walk or talk and was tube-fed. She was treated by nearly every specialty at Children’s Mercy, and those team members became treasured family members to the Gallaghers.

Sadly, Elizabeth passed away in her sleep at home on June 13, 2019, at age nineteen. She was the light of her family, cherished by her parents and sisters, and the inspiration for her parents’ service to Children’s Mercy. 

Terry is a decades long volunteer, chairing the Family Advisory Board and serving on multiple committees and task forces. Diane previously served as president of Red Hot Night and is the immediate past chair of the Board of Directors.

The Gallagher Family Endowed Professorship in Excellence was established in Elizabeth’s memory to support work across disciplines to advance research and care for medically complex children.

Honoree: Tomoo Iwakuma, MD, PhD — Braden's Hope for Childhood Cancer Endowed Chair in Pediatric Molecular Oncology

Dr. Iwakuma earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from Kyushu University in Japan. He is currently Professor and the Associate Director of Academic Career Development at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute (CMRI). He also serves as Co Leader of the Cancer Biology Program at the University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC).

Dr. Iwakuma’s research focuses on cancer biology, with an emphasis on elucidating mechanisms of cancer progression and identifying novel therapeutic strategies that selectively target cancer-specific events. His work is particularly centered on the MDM2/MDM4–p53 signaling pathway.

Donors: Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer 

One Mission. Advancing Research. Giving Hope. Hope for Childhood Cancer was founded in 2010 after the Hofen family experienced firsthand the reality and uncertainty of childhood cancer. When their son Braden was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma at just three years old, they entered a world no parent expects to navigate and witnessed the urgent need for more effective treatments and greater investment in childhood cancer research.

Determined to create a better future for children facing cancer, they transformed their experience into action by establishing Braden's Hope with a simple but powerful goal: to give hope to children and families facing cancer through investment in research.

What began as one family's fight against childhood cancer has grown into a leading philanthropic force advancing pediatric cancer research. For more than 15 years, Braden's Hope has united families, donors, physicians, researchers and community partners around a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children with cancer.

Through strategic investments, collaborative partnerships and a steadfast focus on innovation, Braden's Hope has invested more than $8.5 million in childhood cancer research and initiatives that accelerate scientific discovery, support emerging breakthroughs, and help shape the future of pediatric cancer care.

Throughout its history, children and families facing cancer have remained at the heart of the organization's work, serving as a constant reminder of the urgency behind every investment and discovery.

While inspired by one child's journey, Braden's Hope exists today on behalf of every child and family facing cancer. At the heart of Braden’s Hope is a belief that every child deserves hope, progress and the promise of a better future beyond cancer. The organization is committed to funding high-impact research that brings scientists, physicians, and institutions together to pursue more targeted therapies, fewer long-term side effects and ultimately cures for childhood cancers.

Establishing the Braden's Hope for Childhood Cancer Endowed Chair in Pediatric Molecular Oncology at Children's Mercy represents a transformative investment in the future of childhood cancer. By supporting visionary scientific leadership, fostering innovation and strengthening the foundation for discovery, the endowed chair will help accelerate progress for children and families facing cancer for generations to come. This enduring commitment reflects Braden's Hope's unwavering mission: turning hope into action and creating brighter futures for kids facing cancer.

Honoree: Yong Li, PhD — Paul and Linda DeBruce Endowed Chair in Cancer Immunotherapy

Dr. Yong Li has served as a Doctoral Research Faculty member and the founding Division Director of Molecular Oncology and Cellular Therapeutics at Children’s Mercy since June 2026. Dr. Li earned his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Lanzhou University in 1994 and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 1999. He completed his postdoctoral training at Yale University under Dr. Sidney Altman, a Nobel laureate in Chemistry. Dr. Li launched his independent research career at the University of Louisville in 2004 before transitioning to the Cleveland Clinic in 2014. He joined Baylor College of Medicine in 2019 supported by a Recruitment of Established Investigators Award from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

Dr. Li’s research combines artificial intelligence (AI) with experimental validation to elucidate the fundamental biology of cancer and to develop molecular and cellular therapeutics targeting p53 mutants and other tumor antigens. Dr. Li directs one of three national U54 Cancer Prevention–Interception Centers funded by the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Prevention, focused on developing innovative targeted immunotherapeutics and translating newly discovered, efficacious cancer-preventive or interceptive agents into the clinic.

Dr. Li’s research has been continuously supported by the National Cancer Institute, with federal funding exceeding $2 million annually for more than a decade. He has served as a standing member of the Molecular Cancer Diagnosis and Classification Study Section of the National Institutes of Health, as well as an ad hoc member of more than 20 NIH review panels, and has chaired five Department of Defense cancer review panels. Dr. Li has published over 200 articles in high-impact journals and was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2022.

At Children’s Mercy, Dr. Li is committed to translating scientific discoveries into innovative immunotherapy treatments for pediatric patients and strengthening collaborations with the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Donors: Paul and Linda DeBruce

Paul and Linda DeBruce are longtime Kansas City philanthropists whose leadership and generosity have shaped countless initiatives in health care, education, the arts and community well-being. Both personally and through the DeBruce Foundation, they have invested in efforts that expand opportunity, strengthen communities and improve lives across the region and beyond. Among others, Paul and Linda have focused significant resources in support of the University of Kansas and its health system and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Their philanthropy reflects a deep belief in expanding access to opportunity. The DeBruce Foundation focuses on helping individuals discover their strengths and pursue meaningful career pathways, with an emphasis on education and workforce development. At the same time, Paul and Linda have supported a wide range of causes, from the arts and higher education to public health, research and social services.

Children’s Mercy has been among the many organizations to benefit from their vision and generosity, including support for innovative research initiatives that advance care for children and families.

In recognition of their lasting impact, Paul and Linda DeBruce were named Philanthropists of the Year by Ingram’s in 2023. Their legacy is defined not only by their giving, but by their steadfast commitment to creating stronger, healthier communities and expanding possibilities for future generations.