Laura A. Gaffney, MD

Laura A. Gaffney, MD, is a Board-certified internist and pediatrician who specializes in caring for children, adolescents and adults with enduring health challenges that span their lifetime. She is the founder and clinical leader of AdventHealth Medical Group's Special Pediatric-to-Adult Needs (SPAN) program, Kansas City’s only comprehensive, patient-focused primary care program for adolescents and adults with a chronic condition that persists from childhood to adulthood.

With more than 30 years of experience providing primary care for patients with special needs, in 2024, Dr. Gaffney transitioned to providing care exclusively for SPAN patients and their families. While she is no longer able to accept new traditional patients, she welcomes new SPAN patients. To schedule an appointment for a patient with special needs, call Call913-632-SPAN (7726) or call Call913-632-2900 and specify your interest in SPAN when speaking with the scheduler.

Dr. Gaffney joined AdventHealth Medical Group (formerly Shawnee Mission Physicians Group) in 1997, and she established the SPAN program in 2019. SPAN is one of only a handful of programs in the nation whose scope includes care for all enduring health disorders and that also provides care for family members of these special patients, creating a true medical home for the family.

Throughout her career, Dr. Gaffney has earned multiple honors for excellence in patient care, including the Stewardship Award from AdventHealth (then Shawnee Mission Health) and an Excellence in Primary Care honor. In addition to her direct patient care and clinical leadership of the SPAN program, Dr. Gaffney also serves as a physician for Britain Development, an outreach program of AdventHealth that provides therapeutic treatment and education for young children with special needs. She also is a sought-after speaker on health care for individuals with special needs.

After earning her medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Dr. Gaffney also completed her internal medicine/pediatrics residency at UMKC.

Dr. Gaffney's practice, AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care at Shawnee Mission, is located on the campus of AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, near 75th Street and I-35. To schedule an appointment for a patient with special needs, call Call913-632-SPAN (7726).

Family, gardening, reading, spirituality, travel.

Dr. Gaffney prioritizes listening to her patients. She is passionate about getting to know each patient while working to meet all of their health needs.

She'll work closely with you and a team of multidisciplinary physicians, when needed, to ensure you achieve your treatment goals so you can live your best life.