Executive Board

Jesse Merino DNP, APRN, CPNP:  President

Jesse currently works for Swope Health as a pediatric nurse practitioner at their Swope KidsCARE Tenney Pediatrics Clinic. Jesse has over 16 years of nursing experience in pediatric primary care. He has a special interest in the routine screening and early identification of behavioral health concerns in the pediatric primary care populations; he is also a member of the NAPNAP Developmental Behavioral and Mental Health Special Interest Group. Jesse began his nursing career after graduating with his Practical Nursing certificate from Penn Valley Community College. Continuing his education, he achieved his ADN from Penn Valley Community College and BSN from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). Jesse graduated with his Doctor of Nursing Practice-Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from UMKC in 2022.

Micah Wallace, MSN, RN, CPNP:  Treasurer

Mica graduated with my BSN from St. Luke’s College in 2008. I obtained my PNP in 2013 from University of Missouri Kansas City. I started working at Children’s Mercy Hospital in 2007 as a nurse tech on a floor that managed renal, rehabilitation, neurologic and orthopedic diagnosis. I transitioned to a nursing role when I obtained my BSN and continued to work on this unit until I graduated with my PNP in 2013. I then transitioned to an inpatient role with our CMH Neurology division when I obtained my PNP. After several years working on our division’s inpatient service I transitioned to an ambulatory role in Neurology where I continue to work as an APRN and am involved in our Cardio Neurodevelopmental program.

Tammie Wingert, MSN, RN, CPNP:  CE Chair

Tammie Wingert is joining the Greater Kansas City Chapter of NAPNAP Board as the Continuing Education Chair.  Tammie has been with Children’s Mercy Hospital for 20 years.  She began her career as a Child Life Specialist before becoming a nurse.  Tammie has been a Nurse Practitioner in Neurology for the past 5 years and specializes in headaches and concussions.  In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, family and friends.  She also enjoys reading, cooking, and being outside.

Gladesia Tolbert DNP, CPNP, PMHS:  Membership Chair

Gladesia Tolbert is a pediatric nurse practitioner at the Children’s Mercy Teen Primary Care Clinic and the Children's Mercy Clinic at Operation Breakthrough. Dr. Tolbert is adjunct faculty for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program at University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). She is a certified pediatric primary care mental health specialist and a certified life coach. She is a graduate of UMKC where she received her Masters of Science in Nursing in 2004 and Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2017. Gladesia is the director of the Breaking Through Teen program where she holds regular educational programs to adolescents at community schools with the mission to motivate and inspire teens to make healthy intentional choices to achieve their life goals. Her special interests are school based healthcare and mental health.

Molly Guignon, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC:  Communications Chair

Molly is an APRN who works in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at CMH Adele Hall Campus. She is originally from Belleville, Illinois and she has been in KC for over 15 years. Molly likes tennis, the outdoors, and coffee. Molly received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO. She completed her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in acute care pediatrics at Rush University, Chicago, IL.

Molly says that she is excited to get to connect with other NPs who work with children!!

Trisha Williams, MSN, RN, CPN, CPNP-PC

Trisha Williams CPNP-PC is the legislative chair for the Kansas City Metro Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Missouri Columbia. She currently practices in the Otolaryngology Department at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. She is the co-founder and cohost of the Advanced Practice Perspectives Podcast in collaboration with Children’s Mercy. She is the mother of two active teenagers and has a true love for nature and reading.