We are delighted that Dr. Marion Pierson, President and co-founder of MO Hives KC, will be our keynote speaker this year!

In 2019, Dr. Pierson was inspired by two environmental activists at Detroit Hives, Inc.(Timothy Jackson and Nicole Lindsey) to form MO Hives KC, a Missouri-based nonprofit . This Kansas City native and her Co-Founder,Brian Reeves bring apicultural and environmental awareness to residents via vacant lot transformations, to create healthy and sustainable urban apiaries or honeybee farms. Each apiary serves not only to bring native wildflower beauty and STEM education to underserved and often marginalized communities, the newly installed apiaries also invite a racially and ethnically diverse group of voices to the  conservation conversation. 

Fun Fact : Dr. Pierson was recognized for her organization’s work introducing young people and urban residents to beekeeping and was named the 2021 Beekeeper Of The Year by the Missouri State Beekeepers Association. The 120-year-old MSBA is one of the oldest beekeeping associations in the Midwest.

Dr. Pierson is a graduate of The St. Teresa’s Academy ( STA) College Preparatory School For Girls where she founded the STA Dissection Club and proudly served as the President of her Senior class. Her love of science and commitment to her community continues. A few years ago, for example, she shared her love of medicine with STA students when she taught a mini surgical practicum for a group of sophomore Biology students.  

Immediately after graduating high school she attended The University of Missouri-Kansas City BA/MD Six-year Medical Program where she received both a Bachelor’s degree in Biology along with her medical degree (1987-1993). Upon choosing her specialty, she travelled to Washington, D.C and completed her Pediatric Internship and residency at The Georgetown University Children’s Medical Center (1993-1996). She is Board Certified with the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She brings a wealth of knowledge from both a rural and an urban perspective related to children’s health and health care needs.

 Dr. Pierson is an active volunteer in many community and civic organizations including. She has been a member of The Jackson County ( MO) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated for almost two decades. Dr. Pierson has held leadership positions including serving as her Chapter‘s Chaplain, the past Facet Chair for Services To Youth, Co-Chair for the STEMREADY Garden for Wildlife Subcommittee, Co-chair of the International Trends and Services Committee, Chapter Vice President and Chapter President. She currently serves at the Area level as the Services To Youth Facet Chair and as a National LINKS-STEMREADY Committee Lead. 

For many years Dr. Pierson volunteered as a member of the local SIDS Resources advisory board and even served as the SIDS Resources-Western Region Board Chair. Dr. Pierson was honored to serve as a two-term Gubernatorial appointee to the State of Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee. An agency charged with achieving “…The highest level of health for Missourians through cost containment, reasonable access and public accountability.”  

 Dr. Pierson has, over the past two decades served as the Chairperson for multiple Pediatric Departments and has served as the President of the Medical Staff, of St. Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit,MO  where she lives. She is currently a partner in private practice at Village Pediatrics, LLC. in Prairie Village, Kansas.

 In 2010 Dr. Pierson founded EM Medical Products.  Her company is dedicated to the development of medical devices for pediatric patients. She is the inventor of the KIDAIR adapter, a pediatric endotracheal tube securement device. 

Dr. Pierson is married to Emmet W. Pierson Jr., and they are the proud parents of two very active daughters. Elexa (A Health Science graduate from Howard University in Washington,D.C and Erris ( A recent UK graduate and Special Education teacher in Lexington, Kentucky ). As you can see, a love of science and giving back is a family affair.