Our team is here to make sure each appointment is efficient and productive, so you leave the office understanding your child’s diagnosis and plan with a friendly and professional approach. Our providers are experienced and qualified in the diagnosis, treatment and management of children with cardiac conditions.
Our Physicians
GENERAL CARDIOLOGY, HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA, HYPERTENSION
Bill Drake, MD
Dr. Drake graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1985. He received his Master's degree in inorganic chemistry with Dr. Larry Dahl from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987, and received his MD from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1991. He then completed his Pediatrics Residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in 1994, during which time he met a very bright, pretty nurse who said 'yes' when he asked her to marry him. Dr. Drake moved to England for a year while he worked as a Pediatric Registrar (Chief Resident) at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. He then finished his Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 1999.
Dr. Drake started at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City in 1999 and was active in clinical care (inpatient and outpatient), research (clinical and translational), and teaching medical students and residents. In 2014 he started Kansas City Pediatric Cardiology, and in 2020 Dr. Tara Swanson and Dr. Karina Carlson joined the practice.
Dr. Drake enjoys working on his car, spending time with his family, trying to play the guitar, and sailing.
GENERAL CARDIOLOGY, INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY
Karina Carlson, MD
Dr. Karina Carlson graduated from University of Illinois in 1994 with a BS in Biology. She attended medical school at Loyola University Chicago where she met her husband Brent and married him in 1997. She received her MD in 1998 and completed residency in Pediatrics at Children's Mercy Hospital in 2001. She finished her fellowships in Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Interventional Cardiac Catheterization at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas, in 2005. Dr. Carlson spent 15 years at Children’s Mercy Hospital serving children, performing cardiac catheterizations, and helping to create and lead a Pediatric Cardiology fellowship training program. She loves her patients and their families! She is truly honored to care for children and watch them grow and thrive. She joined KCPC in early 2020 where she continues that mission.
Dr. Carlson and her husband have three amazing children, one son and two daughters. She enjoys spending as much time as possible with her family. They love watching their kids' sporting events and musical performances, hiking with their dogs, boating, cooking outdoors, exploring nature, and celebrating time together.
GENERAL CARDIOLOGY, FETAL CARDIOLOGY
Tara Swanson, MD
Dr. Swanson graduated from Dartmouth College in 1998 with a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She received her MD from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 2002 and completed her Pediatric Residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut in 2005. She finished her Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital in 2008. Dr. Swanson started her career at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City where she was active in the Non-Invasive Imaging Laboratory and was the Director of the Fetal Cardiology Program for 10 years. Dr. Swanson enjoys taking care of patients and their families in clinic, but her true passion is fetal diagnosis of congenital heart disease to help prepare families for the birth of a child with special cardiac needs.
Dr. Swanson has been married to her husband Erik since 2002 and she still loves him very much. They have a son and two daughters who make life busy and loud and fun. Dr. Swanson enjoys traveling, reading books, bargain-hunting, running, organizing, and exploring nature.
Our Nurses and Care Assistants
NURSE EXTRAORDINAIRE!!
Cheryl Grace, RN, BSN, CPN
Cheryl Grace graduated from Central Missouri State University in 1990 with her BS in Nursing. She worked at Children's Mercy Hospital on the Hematology/Oncology unit, as a sedation nurse, and a charge nurse in Urgent Care. She is a Certified Pediatric Nurse and an instructor in Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support.
Cheryl is a lifelong resident of Kansas City North. She married her high school sweetheart in 1991 and they currently reside in the area with their three active boys. In 2000, their son Carter died suddenly from cardiac arrest. They started a foundation in his memory called Carter's Gift From the Heart. The foundation places Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) in schools, churches, and places where people gather. AEDs provide electrical defibrillation (shocks), and this lifesaving defibrillation must occur within minutes after cardiac arrest to increase the chance for survival. We hope that because of Carter, others experiencing sudden cardiac arrest may have a second chance.
WELCOME TO THE KCPCA FAMILY, JILL!
Jill Wilson, RN, BSN, CPN
Jill graduated nursing school in 2010 and completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Central Missouri State University. She is a certified pediatric nurse who began her nursing career at Children's Mercy Hospital as a nurse tech in surgical services. Jill remained on this unit for 13 years working critical care in the PACU, Pre and Post-Op and in the surgical clearinghouse. Jill also spent over 7 years as an early childhood education provider prior to pursuing her nursing career.
She was born and raised in Kansas and has two lovely daughters who are her pride and joy and keep her very busy outside of work.
Jill truly loves working with children of all ages and is very proud to be part of the Kansas City Pediatric Cardiology team caring for our region’s children and their families.
NURSE AND CO-OWNER
Rachel Drake, RN
Rachel is co-owner and works as an RN at KCPCA when needed. Married to Bill for 27 years, they have three adult children, two boys and a girl, who are all currently in college around the country.
After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1989, Rachel has spent her career in pediatrics and is currently a charge nurse at Children’s Mercy Hospital Urgent Care. She completed her Master’s of Nursing in Public Health degree from the University of Kansas.
Along with Dr. Drake, Dr. Carlson, Dr. Swanson, and the entire KCPCA staff, Rachel is honored to serve children and families with cardiac needs in the Midwest.
Our Sonographers
SONOGRAPHER AND MOM OF THREE GIRLS!
Elise Greene, MS, RDCS (AE, PE)
Elise Greene graduated in 2004 from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology. She later received her Master's Degree in Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound in 2008 at MU. She has been a registered cardiac sonographer since 2009 and enjoys working with both children and adults. Elise met and married her husband, Christopher, in college and together they have a wonderful daughter named Avery and twin girls Madeleine and Emily born in January 2021. They currently reside in Lee's Summit.
Elise truly enjoys working to improve the health of children through the provision of high-quality cardiac care. She loves working with children at all ages and stages of life. She is thrilled to be a team member at Kansas City Pediatric Cardiology.
SONOGRAPHER AND MOM OF TWO DOGS
Brigid Culey, RDCS
Brigid graduated from Texas A&M with a BS in Marine Science. She went back to school and earned her degree in Cardiac Ultrasound. Through her work on Catalina Island as an oceanography instructor, she discovered a passion for teaching and working with kids. The past few years, Brigid has volunteered for medical missions to Rwanda and Praguay as well as at camp for children with congenital heart disease. She is excited and proud to be part of the amazing KCPCA family. Outside of work, Brigid enjoys taking her two dogs for walks, cooking, reading, and exercising.
SONOGRAPHER, MOUNTAIN-BIKER, AND WATCH COLLECTOR
Mariano Coral, BS RDCS (AE)
Mariano (Mario) Coral comes from his hometown in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After graduating in 2017 from Southeast Technical College with an Associates Degree in cardiac ultrasound he moved to Kansas City and started working at North Kansas City Hospital. Continuing his education far from home, he later received his Bachelor's Degree in Health Sciences from the University of South Dakota in 2020. Since his move to Kansas City, Mariano has worked and volunteered in various places throughout the Metro Area. When he is not busy with work or school Mariano enjoys traveling and mountain biking. Mariano joined Kansas City Pediatric Cardiology in 2021 and is very excited to be member of the team.
Our Fabulous Support Staff
PRACTICE MANAGER
Renee Schneller
Renee Schneller joined our practice in 2017. She is a native of the Kansas City area, graduated from Shawnee Mission South in Overland Park, and currently resides in Smithville with her daughters Taylor and Lauren. Renee has been in the medical billing field for many years and obtained her certification as a Professional Coder in 2015.
Renee keeps our lights on, solves problems, and is the backbone of our team at Kansas City Pediatric Cardiology. We are super lucky to have her!
RECEPTIONIST, BRIARCLIFF OFFICE
Lauren Charbonneau
Lauren joined our practice in August of 2020. She was born in Wichita, KS and raised in Smithville, MO. She graduated from Smithville High School in 2018. She spends her free time with her son Cayden and her Great Dane Duke. Lauren enjoys children of all ages and she is the smiling face you’ll see when you enter our Briarcliff office!
RECEPTIONIST, OVERLAND PARK OFFICE
Emily Sands
Emily joined our practice in 2021. In addition to completing her bachelors degree at West Coast Baptist College in California, Emily has worked in the medical office setting over the last ten years. Outside of work, you would find Emily enjoying live theater or writing puppet skits and organizing events for the children’s department at her church.
Emily enjoys helping people, and she will be happy to assist when she greets you at our Overland Park office!
