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Shawn M. Taylor, MD, is a Lexington pediatrician, transplanted to Kentucky many years ago from the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Dr. Taylor graduated from the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo in 1980, with several awards for leadership and academic excellence. She then completed her Pediatric residency and chief residency at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, KY. Since completion of her Chief Residency in 1989, Dr. Taylor has been in general pediatric practice in Lexington. After 16 years, Dr. Taylor felt God’s calling to begin her own general pediatric practice, with the added flavor of international adoptions. In addition to general pediatric medical care to all patients, Dr. Taylor has an interest and desire to provide medical care for international adoptees and their families, an area that she has worked in for over 10 years. Along with her private practice, Dr. Taylor is presently the Director of the International Adoption Clinic at the University of Kentucky Children's Hospital. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is board cer tified with the American Board of Pediatrics.

.		 Dr. Bush is a native of Lexington. She graduated from Lafayette High School then received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. She returned to attend the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Dr. Bush remained at UK for her pediatric residency. She then joined the faculty of UK as a pediatrician and clinical instructor. After four years at UK she joined a private pediatric practice in Lexington. She is now excited to join Dr. Taylor at A Caring Touch Pediatrics.
   

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 Beth E. Sturgill MSN, ARNP, PNP-BC, is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. After graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Kentucky, she immediately began working in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the UK Children’s Hospital. While there, she earned a Master of Science degree in nursing along with her initial Pediatric Nurse Practitioner certification. Concurrently, she practiced at the Family Care Center and Fayette County Elementary schools in their Healthy Kids Clinics. She also taught clinicals to nursing students at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. After fifteen years of work in the PICU she began work at the UK Children’s Clinic and Twilight Clinic as a staff nurse. When presented with the incredible opportunity to practice as a PNP at A Caring Touch Pediatrics, she felt privileged for the chance to work in such a wonderful environment and joined the team. She looks forward to meeting many new people and being an integral part of their health care maintenance and well-being. She resides in Lexington with her husband and four children.
Elizabeth Shoemaker, RN is a graduate of the University of Kentucky Lexington Community College with an Associate Degree in Nursing. Upon graduation, she worked for 7 years at UK Children’s Hospital in the infectious pediatric disease ward. For the past 18 years, she has worked with Dr. Shawn Taylor at a general pediatrician’s office in Central Kentucky. She is a native Kentuckian and married with a teenage son. She feels that children and families are a blessing from God and should be treated with the utmost respect and tender loving care. She considers it a privilege and an honor to help provide the best medical care for your children and is very excited and looking forward to meeting each of you.

Sharon Hepner graduated from Lafayette High School and UK College of Nursing with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Immediately after graduation she began working in Pediatrics at UK hospital. For the last 35 years she has been a neonatal intensive care nurse at Central Baptist Hospital. Sharon loves babies and children and delights in interacting with them.She considers the opportunity in joining this wonderful practice and compassionate staff of health care professionals as a real blessing from the Lord. She is married, is blessed with 2 grown children and 1 grand-dog. She desires to retain that "child-like" excitement of life for the future as she continues to learn and grow from working with children.


Connie Withers CMA (AAMA) is a Certified Medical Assistant from Cynthiana, KY. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with an Associate Degree in Medical Assisting Technology in 1974. After having worked for the University of Kentucky Departments of Family Practice and Pediatrics for 19 years, she joined A Caring Touch Pediatrics in May 2008. She considers this union as a blessing from God and is excited to be a part of this practice to help provide top quality medical care to the children and their families of Central Kentucky. She is a member of the Central Kentucky Chapter of Medical Assistants as well as the American Association of Medical Assistants.


Emilee Back, CMA currently lives in Nicholasville, where she was born and raised. She completed the Medical Assistant program at Bluegrass Community and Technical College where she remained on the Deans’ List until graduation in May 2007. After graduating Emilee made the decision to be a stay at home mom to her two beautiful children, Ashlyn and Griffin. In 2010 she decided it was time to pursue her career.  Emilee considers it a blessing from God that A Caring Touch allowed her to begin her career with such a great group. She is very excited to continue to grow with this practice.

LeaAnn Howell was born and raised in Kentucky. She moved to Lexington in 1995 where she attended Lexington Community College (now called Bluegrass Community and Technical College). She began working in pediatrics in 1995 as an emergency room technician. In 1997 she began using her talents in a pediatric office, ultimately assuming the position of laboratory director. She has loved every minute of her work and really enjoys interacting with children. She has been married for 6 years and has two wonderful boys. LeaAnn is excited to be a part of the ACT team and will add her own fun and personal touch to each ACT experience.