Well-known Omaha pediatrician Dr. Kelli Shidler joins the Methodist family

Kelli Shidler, MD, largely credits her aunt, a former nurse, for fostering her early interest in medicine.

“But having always loved, loved, loved babies, it just seemed natural that I would want to be a ‘baby doctor,’” Dr. Shidler said.

And during medical school, she gravitated toward the pediatric subspecialties.

“For example, on my ortho rotation, I chose pediatric ortho. On my ENT rotation, I chose pediatric ENT. I was always drawn to the kids,” she said.

Dr. Shidler, a pediatrician at Methodist Physicians Clinic - Hawthorne Court, especially enjoys seeing newborns in clinic and helping new parents navigate the complexities that come with such a major life change. As her own kids have grown, she’s also developed a “special love” of caring for adolescents, finding them easily relatable thanks to her own life experiences.

The most rewarding part of her job? Getting a front-row seat to the growth and development of her patients. She feels a deep loyalty to each of them and is committed to being as accessible as possible whenever they call.

“I build in multiple slots each day for sick visits. I get to the office an hour before clinic starts. And I typically stay a couple hours after clinic is done. I do everything I can to take care of all my patients – and as thoroughly as possible on a daily basis.”

Having rounded on Methodist newborns for decades prior, Dr. Shidler knew she was walking into a positive, collaborative and patient-first environment when she joined the health system in December 2025. And she was no stranger to The Meaning of Care.

“It means seeing each child as more than a patient. It’s about understanding their story, their family. It’s combining medical expertise with empathy and kindness, and ensuring every child feels safe, heard and valued. My patients are family. The Meaning of Care is really just treating them as such.”

When she’s not with her patient family, she enjoys spending time with her own family – her husband, three children (who are all interested or pursuing careers in medicine, as well) and fur baby Ollie, a maltipoo. They all enjoy music, running and visiting their vacation home in Okoboji, Iowa.