 Dr. Pennie BlissBoard Certified General PediatricianDr. Bliss and her family moved to Johnston County in 1997 to start Smithfield Kids Care, now Kids Care Pediatrics. She is an avowed “morning person” and an avid runner. She has a special interest in asthma care, sports medicine and ensuring children of all abilities can participate in sports. She also has an interest in early childhood literacy, which led her to bring the “Reach Out and Read” Program to Kids Care. The program has served to bring reading and books to over 1000 families in both locations. |
 Dr. Debra TetreaultBoard Certified General PediatricianDr. Tetreault joined Kids Care in 1998. She attended the University of Alabama Medical School and did her pediatric residency at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Prior to moving to Johnston County, she lived in Phoenix where she ran an inner-city pediatric clinic and developed a program for babies exposed to drugs prior to birth. She moved to Johnston County to be a small town doctor so she can watch her patients grow up and become wonderful adults. Being a part of their lives is the best part of the job! |
Kate HoughtalenPediatric Nurse PractitionerKate Houghtalen, CPNP joined Kids Care Pediatrics in 2016. She grew up in upstate New York and attended college in Boston. After graduating from nursing school she moved to North Carolina and has been here ever since. She has worked in pediatrics since the beginning of her nursing career, including almost 10 years in the Intensive Care Nursery at Duke University Medical Center. She loves working with kids and could not imagine working with any other patient population. She graduated from Duke University with her master’s degree in 2015. Thanks to her experience in the Intensive Care Nursery Kate has an interest in newborn health and children with a history of premature birth but enjoys caring for children of all ages. Being able to see children and families grow together is what she enjoys most about working in primary care. Outside of work she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and cheering for the New England Patriots. |
Lori BaileyPediatric Nurse PractitionerLori Bailey, CPNP joined Kids Care Pediatrics in 2017. She has grown up around the triangle area for most of her life and now resides with her husband and 3 children. She has been a pediatric nurse since the beginning of her nursing career and spent many years working at UNC Children’s Hospital. Obtaining her graduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill, she now has over 8 years of experience as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner working in both acute and primary care. She remains an active member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners as well as Sigma Theta Tau, the nursing honor society. As a mother of twins and premature babies, she has a special interest in multiples and newborns but enjoys all age groups. During her time off she enjoys spending time with her family and attending her children’s athletic events including soccer and gymnastics. |