Heartspring Appoints Dr. Cassie Karlsson as Chief Medical Officer to Advance Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Care

Wichita, KAN., October 9, 2025 – Heartspring announces the appointment of Dr. Cassie Karlsson as Chief Medical Officer. As a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Karlsson will provide clinical leadership and direct psychiatric care to children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Her appointment expands her prior role at Heartspring as chief consulting psychiatrist and marks a significant step forward in the organization’s mission to expand access to a high-quality, evidence-based continuum of care for children and families across Kansas and the region.

At Heartspring, Dr. Karlsson’s work with multidisciplinary teams — including nurses, clinicians, educators, and direct support staff—directly impacts and shapes the individualized treatment plans for children with neurodevelopmental needs in Heartspring’s care.

Dr. Karlsson’s expanded leadership role comes at a pivotal time for Heartspring, as the organization prepares to launch its Center for Pediatric Neurodevelopment in the downtown Wichita health care corridor amongst other allied health programs, including Wichita State University, WSU Tech, KU School of Medicine-Wichita and KU School of Pharmacy-Wichita.

“As we expand into the Wichita health care corridor, we’re not just building a facility — we’re helping shape the future of pediatric healthcare,” said Dan Soliday, Heartspring President and CEO. “This center will attract top-tier medical talent, create job opportunities, and foster collaborative innovation supporting research and technological advancements. It’s a catalyst for economic development and a symbol of Wichita’s growing vibrancy. We’re proud to be part of a vision that brings world-class care and groundbreaking research to the heart of our city.”

Dr. Karlsson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Kansas School of Medicine–Wichita, where she also serves as Program Director for the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship. Her dual roles at KU and Heartspring reflect the institutions’ commitments to strengthening clinical training, expanding access to care, and supporting the next generation of psychiatric professionals.

“For the past 15 years, my career has focused on caring for children, adolescents and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders,” said Dr. Karlsson. “I am so fortunate there is an organization like Heartspring in my home state of Kansas, where I can combine my passions, bringing high-quality care to kids in Kansas while also taking care of this special population.”

Dr. Karlsson also emphasized the importance of immersive training experiences for KU’s Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows, noting that Heartspring provides a rare opportunity for fellows to engage directly with children who have complex neurodevelopmental needs. This hands-on exposure helps prepare them to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care to families across Kansas and beyond.

Kansas needs about 400 child psychiatrists to meet the full range of mental health needs of the children and adolescents in the state, and has fewer than 70, most of whom are located in the northeast corner of the state.

“There are a lot of things that can really change over the next 10 to 20 years,” Dr. Karlsson said. “Families might not necessarily need to travel several hours away to get their children the care they need, and this opportunity not only impacts Wichita and our state, but also our region.”

Influencing children’s lives at an early age and providing appropriate treatments can change the trajectory of their lives and who they become as adults.

“The addition of a Chief Medical Officer ensures our children and families have access to the highest level of medical expertise, woven seamlessly into our therapeutic and educational services,” said Moniqueka Holloway, Heartspring’s Chief Program Officer. “This clinical leadership expansion gives families even greater confidence in the comprehensive care their children receive.”

The appointment of a Chief Medical Officer strengthens Heartspring’s leadership infrastructure and further enhances the clinical excellence embedded in every aspect of care. Beyond direct patient services, the organization is positioning itself to pursue groundbreaking research and attract industry partners to Wichita who seek collaborative innovation and create new pathways of care for neurodevelopmental disorders. The new downtown multi-clinic facility will serve as a hub for this transformational work.

Expanding the organization’s leadership and ability to serve children with neurodevelopmental needs advances Heartspring’s strategic goal to re-emerge as a globally recognized Center of Excellence in Pediatric Neurodevelopment. As the Institute of Logopedics, Heartspring once drew families from around the world seeking the best pediatric therapies, while its clinical teams provided training and consultation internationally.

With Dr. Karlsson’s clinical leadership, Heartspring will continue to advance its vision for every child to realize their full potential and push what’s possible for the future of healthcare.

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About Heartspring
Heartspring is a place of possibility for children the world underestimates. Based in Wichita, Kansas, Heartspring assesses, diagnoses, treats, educates and inspires children with neurodevelopmental needs. Every year, the organization serves more than 500 children and adolescents through its Pediatric Outpatient Clinic and Therapeutic Residential & Day School.

Founded in 1934 as the Institute of Logopedics, Heartspring has a 92-year legacy of delivering evidence-based therapies and education for children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Its Pediatric Outpatient Clinic and Residential Program within its Therapeutic Residential & Day School earned a three-year accreditation from CARF International in August 2024. The organization is expanding with a new state-of-the-art, multi-clinic facility in Wichita’s downtown health care corridor, adjacent to the Wichita Biomedical Campus.