Meet Our Faculty

Denise Bratcher, DO

Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Dr. Sidney F Pakula Endowed Chair in Graduate Medical Education; Chair, Department of Graduate Medical Education; Designated Institutional Official, Children's Mercy Kansas City; Associate Chair, Department of Pediatrics; Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Denise Bratcher, DO is the inaugural chair holder of the newly established Dr. Sidney F. Pakula Endowed Chair in Graduate Medical Education. Prior to becoming the Chair of Graduate Medical Education, Dr. Bratcher spent 10 years leading the Children’s Mercy Pediatric Residency Program where she achieved a 100% board pass rate during her last two years.

Sarah E. Soden, MD

Developmental & Behavioral Medicine

Nick Timmons Endowed Chair in Developmental & Behavioral Sciences; Division Director, Developmental & Behavioral Sciences; Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Sarah Soden, MD, holds the Nick Timmons Endowed Chair in Developmental and Behavioral Health, created by longtime partners and donors, Fore the Kids Foundation. As the Director of the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Health at Children’s Mercy, Dr. Soden leads a team of more than 50 psychologists, psychiatrists and developmental pediatricians. Her leadership of the Community Impact Committee and as co-lead of the Mental Health Committee for the Children’s Mercy Enterprise Strategic Plan have been instrumental in addressing the growing mental health crisis in our community.