Skip to main content.

Staff

About The Adults with Down Syndrom Speciality Clinic

The Adults with Down syndrome specialty clinic is located in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. The clinic was originated by a perceived need for specialized health care for adults with Down syndrome and their unique healthcare needs. The clinic is staff by Moya Peterson, PhD (Nursing) and she is a board certified family nurse practitioner. Also in the clinic is a certified dietician, Melissa McGinnis. Referrals to other specialties such as cardiology, neurology and the sleep disorders clinic are made as necessary.

Dr. Moya Peterson Dr. Moya Peterson, PhD

Dr. Moya Peterson has been a family nurse practitioner for almost 25 years at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Family Medicine. She also teaches graduate nursing at the School of Nursing also at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Her interest in Down syndrome began many years ago in her undergraduate nursing program. Her interest in adults with Down syndrome began while she was working on her PhD in nursing at the University of Kansas.

Her dissertation titled ‘Health concerns of adults with Down syndrome and their families” was the event that spurred her to start this clinic. The clinic was established in 2009 and continues to grow. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, the Kansas State Nurses Association, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty, the National Down Syndrome Congress and the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group. She also serves on the board of the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City.

Melissa McGuire

Melissa McGuire, MS, RD, LD, CDE

Melissa has 30+ years experience as a dietitian. A dietitian assists people with fueling the body (or eating) to obtain the nutrients needed to have optimal health and well-being. She has worked at Shawnee Mission Health for 30 years-as an in-hospital dietitian, diabetes educator, home healthcare, outpatient clinic, and also as an adjunct instructor. She loves all that makes people unique, learning what their needs are and assisting with ways to meet desired health goals. Working with Moya in the Down Syndrome Clinic at KU Med brings further opportunities to continue the same goal of making nutrition needs fit into everyday life. “I truly learn something from everyone I meet.”

Contact Us

If you have questions or need additional information about the health care of an adult with Down syndrome or have questions about the resources please complete our online form and we will reply. Also if you have a resource that you would like to have included in this list please complete the online form as well with the needed information for the resource.