Dr Burns has his MS in Anatomy and Neurobiology and MD from the University of Arkansas. He finished his neonatology fellowship there in 2012. He practiced in San Antonio and then came back to the University of Arkansas to practice and teach as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. Most recently he has been practicing in Jonesboro, Arkansas at the St Bernard's Medical Center. Sam has broad clinical experience and has served in leadership of NICU quality improvement initiatives and in administrative roles.

Dr. Burns joined Sunflower in 2019. He lives in Overland Park with his wife and busy family of 4.

Dr. Verhaeghe earned her medical degree from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Mo. She completed her pediatric residency at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa and her neonatal-perinatal residency at St. Louis University in 2019. Dr. Verhaeghe’s background includes participation in several clinical and bench research projects during her career. Rebecca has presented her work in numerous poster and oral presentations.

Dr. Verhaeghe joined Sunflower in 2019. She lives in Olathe with her husband and young daughter.

Dr. Howlett received her medical degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine. She then completed both her pediatric residency and neonatal-perinatal fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD.

Her experience includes participation in multiple medical missions to Peru, Haiti and Kenya.

Dr. Howlett enjoys spending time with her husband and young family of 4, including twin girls.

Dr. Castro joined Sunflower Neonatology in February of 2011. She attended medical school at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO and then completed a Pediatric Residency at Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics in Kansas City, MO. Dr. Castro continued her advanced training with a Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and a Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

Prior to joining Sunflower, Dr. Castro was on Staff in Neonatology and Clinical Pharmacology at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City. Dr. Castro is Board Certified in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.

In her free time, Dr. Castro enjoys reading Sci-Fi novels, birdwatching, spending time with her husband, her two sons, and her fur baby German Shepherd dog.

Dr. Tiffany Simpson arrived at Sunflower Neonatology in March 2009. She received the Doctor of Medicine from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. After her training in Kansas City, Dr. Simpson completed a residency in Pediatrics at the State University of New York in Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Simpson returned to the Midwest for a Fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine from St. Louis Children's Hospital at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Simpson assumed the role of Medical Director of the Research Medical Center NICU in 2017 and added the Medical Director of Centerpoint Medical Center NICU in 2018. Dr. Simpson is Board Certified in Pediatrics and Neonatology.

Dr. Simpson resides in Overland Park, Kansas with her husband and three lovely daughters.

Dr. Lancaster, a native of Missouri, received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Chicago. His residency in pediatrics and his fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine were conducted at St. Louis Children's Hospital at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Lancaster is board-certified in pediatrics and neonatology.

Dr. Lancaster joined the practice in the summer of 2008 and was named Medical Director at Research Medical Center the following year. At the start of 2019, Dr. Lancaster assumed the role of Medical Director of the Overland Park Regional NICU. He continues his interest in neonatal neurocritical care, including the benefits of whole body cooling in babies with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Dr. Lancaster lives in Overland Park, KS with his wife and four active children, two sons and two daughters.

Dr. Stapley completed his medical school training at the University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine. Kansas City was fortunate to retain his talents in the area as he completed his residency in Pediatrics at the Kansas University Medical Center and a fellowship in Neonatology at Kansas City's own Children's Mercy Hospital.

Sunflower Neonatology invited Dr. Stapley to join the practice in the summer of 2007 after his fellowship and received his board certification in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine shortly thereafter. In 2009, Dr. Stapley accepted a position as Medical Director at Menorah Medical Center, a position he retains to this day.

Dr. Stapley lives in Overland Park, KS with his lovely wife and three delightful daughters.

Dr. Holcomb joined Sunflower Neonatology in January of 2006. He attended medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. and then completed his pediatric residency at Wilford Hall U.S.A.F. Medical Center. His Neonatology fellowship was at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center after which he became a staff neonatologist at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. While in Europe, Dr Holcomb gained considerable experience in transport medicine conducting multiple international and trans-Atlantic missions moving critically ill neonates as well as pediatric patients. After his tour of duty in Germany, Dr. Holcomb was stationed at Keesler Medical Center, Biloxi, MS, where he was Director of Neonatal Services and Director of the Critical Care Air Transport Teams, the USAF's second largest contingency of adult/pediatric/neonatal transport teams. After almost 18 years of service in the USAF, Dr. Holcomb joined Sunflower Neonatology in the winter of 2006. This move was earlier than planned due to the unexpected evacuation from Biloxi, MS, as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

A major interest of Dr Holcomb's is the transport of critically ill newborns, having personally completed over 120 national and international critical care transports. Instrumental in its formation, he is the Medical Director of HCA's Midwest Division Neonatal Transport Service which began operation September 1, 2007. The team provides ground and helicopter transport. Dr Holcomb is the Medical Director of the HCA Maternal Transport beginning in 2018.  Dr. Holcomb is Board Certified in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.

Dr. Holcomb resides in Stilwell, KS with his wife, three children, 4 horses, 4 dogs and a plethora of other animals.

Dr. Weatherstone attended medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. Upon completing her fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Dr. Weatherstone began her career as a neonatologist at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Dr. Weatherstone was awarded tenure and served as the Chief of the Division of Neonatology for seven years at the University of Kansas School of Medicine

In July 2004, Dr. Weatherstone established Sunflower Neonatology Associates and was the founding CEO/Manager of the practice until her retirement in 2021.

Kathleen
Weatherstone, MD
(Founder, Retired)

Robert
Holcomb, MD

Christopher
Stapley, DO

Thomas
Lancaster, MD

Tiffany
Simpson, MD

Lisa
Castro, MD

Jessica
Howlett, MD

Samuel
Burns, MD

Rebecca
Verhaeghe, DO

Jamesia
Donato, MD

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