Cynthia Schaeffer, M.D. 

Pediatrician, President

Cynthia Schaeffer, M.D. is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is board certified in Pediatrics. Doctor Schaeffer is a graduate of University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed her residency in 1994 at the University of Maryland. Doctor Schaeffer started Pediatric Place in 1997 with the idea that children should enjoy coming to the doctor. This gave Pediatric Place its slogan “Your kids are our kids”. She wanted to provide medical care in a warm friendly environment. Doctor Schaeffer and her husband Dan have two daughters. In her free time she enjoys boating and spending quality time with her family.

Meghan Begley, CPNP

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Meghan Begley CRNP is a Certified Nurse Practitioner. She graduated with a bachelor's in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania where she played a collegiate sport. She worked for seven years at Johns Hopkins Hospital on the adolescent medical-surgical floor prior to completing her Nurse Practitioner degree. Meghan graduated with a master's in nursing from the University of Maryland in 2013, specializing in pediatric primary care. Meghan has four years of CRNP experience prior to joining Pediatric Place.


Meghan resides in Pasadena with her husband and three daughters.  She loves to spend her free time enjoying the outdoors, winter camping, playing sports, reading, and having game nights.



Elizabeth DiSanti, CPNP 

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Elizabeth DiSanti, CPNP, is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Originally from New Jersey, Elizabeth moved to Maryland after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina. She began her nursing career in Baltimore and later spent nearly five years at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she worked as a pediatric surgical-trauma nurse caring for children with complex medical and surgical needs. Elizabeth went on to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Pediatric Primary Care from the University of Maryland. She is passionate about preventive health and values the importance of fostering positive health habits from an early age. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, exploring new restaurants, and trying out new recipes at home. 


Adrienne Bourguet Valente, CRNP

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Certified Lactation Counselor 

Adrienne Bourguet Valente, CRNP is a Board -Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, who graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University in 2017 with the award for academic excellence in her specialty. Adrienne worked as a Pediatric Intensive Care nurse for three years, prior to starting her career in primary care. The children she cared for in the ICU were frequently admitted for conditions that are initially treated in primary care offices, such as asthma exacerbation, bronchiolitis, and sepsis. She transitioned to this specialty in hopes to provide the necessary care and education to her patients to avoid preventable hospital admissions. Adrienne previously worked as a Nurse Practitioner in the Baltimore area.

Adrienne currently resides in Fells Point. In her spare time enjoys fitness, cooking, gardening and volley ball.  In 2021, Adrienne became a  lactation counselor through the certifying body the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice.

Gwyn Reece, CRNP

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Gwyn Reece, CRNP is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner. She obtained a Bachelor of Science from Tulane University in Cellular and Molecular Biology and a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing from the Johns Hopkins University. As a nurse, Gwyn worked in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the University of Maryland. Gwyn has been a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the Annapolis area since 2002. Gwyn has held several board positions for the National Association for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), including past president. Gwyn has special interests in pediatric hospice and palliative care. She is currently a member of the Pediatric Medical Staff at Anne Arundel Medical Center. In her free time, Gwyn loves cheering her kids on in competition dance, ice hockey and lacrosse. She also enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music and going to the theater. She lives in Crofton with her husband and 2 children. 


Cherry Choong, D.O.


Board Certified Pediatrician

Dr. Cherry Choong, DO is a Board Certified Pediatrician with a specialized focus on pediatric endocrinology—the study of hormones and how they help children grow, develop, and stay healthy.

Dr. Choong is passionate about supporting families through the challenges of autoimmune conditions, such as Type 1 Diabetes and Graves’ disease. Her goal is to make complex medical information easy to understand so that parents and children feel empowered in their care. With a background that includes award-winning clinical care and research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dr. Choong brings a high level of expertise to the practice. She has published her findings in leading medical journals and frequently speaks at national conferences to help advance the field of pediatric health. Dr. Choong earned her degrees from the University of Maryland, Boston University, and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Today, she is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to every child’s unique needs, ensuring they have the support they need to thrive.