Laura 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.

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), an Excellence in Primary Care honor, Kansas Hospital Association nominee from Advent Health 2024 and winner of the best Family physician Joco Post 2025. 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.