Year Round Staff - Camp Sweeney

Ernie Fernandez, M.D.

Camp Director

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Dr. Fernandez has served as Camp Director since 1991. He joined the Sweeney Medical Staff in 1985 and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Fernandez graduated medical school from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed he is Residency at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.

Bob Cannon

Program Director

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Bob earned his degree in Telecommunications Engineering in the United States Air Force, where he served for four years at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Following his military service, Bob worked as an independent telecommunications contractor, eventually working in management and executive roles in the telecom industry for 16 years.

Bob left the Telecom industry in early August of 2001 to begin a new career in Video Production, launching Bob Cannon Productions. In the summer of 2004, Bob began working with Camp Sweeney. For the past 20 years, Bob has provided year-round production, including Video Production, Photography and Social Media Support for Camp Sweeney. In his additional role as Program Director, Bob is responsible for day to day facility operations and off-season facility management.

Kathryn Sumpter, M.D.

Medical Director of Development

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A Texas native, Dr. Sumpter was born in Austin but moved to St. Petersburg, FL at the age of 6. She eventually returned to Texas to attend Rice University. During her junior year, Dr. Sumpter took a road trip with friends and made them stop every hour or so to let her use the bathroom and buy another water bottle. A few weeks later, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. That diagnosis changed her life in many ways, including her career choice. After a brief stint as a management consultant, Dr. Sumpter attended UT Southwestern and stayed for 18 years, first as a student, then a resident, then a fellow, and eventually as an attending Pediatric Endocrinologist. Camp Sweeney has been close to her heart since she joined the medical staff as a medical student in 2002. She moved to Memphis, TN in 2017 and is now Division Chief of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, but she still comes back to Sweeney as often as she can!

Soumya Adhikari, M.D.

Medical Director of Faculty and Research

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Dr. Adhikari came to Children’s Medical Center and UT Southwestern Medical Center in 2001 to complete his residency in Pediatrics. Prior to that he completed his undergraduate education at the University of Florida and went on to medical school at the University of Miami (FL). At the conclusion of his residency he was awarded the “White Hat” award, as elected by vote of his fellow 3rd year residents when asked to select the colleague they would most want as their own child’s pediatrician. After his residency he stayed at UT Southwestern (UTSW) to complete a fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology. Upon completion of his fellowship, he joined the faculty at UTSW, as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. In 2008, he assumed the position of the Director of the Pediatrics Clerkship, in addition to his clinical responsibilities.