Physicians & staff
Physicians & Staff
Ben Renfroe, MD
Dr. Renfroe is a native Pensacolian, who attended the University of Alabama, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, University of Minnesota, and Baylor College of Medicine. He was then honored with the E.L. “Pete” Wehner Fellowship in Epilepsy at Baylor. In 1993 he was awarded the highly competitive Victor Horsley Research Fellowship from the Epilepsy Foundation of America. He seized an opportunity to bring his skills home to northwest Florida in 1994 to begin his practice of child neurology. Since that time, the practice has grown to include four physicians and four nurse practitioners.
His practice specializes in epilepsy, cerebral palsy, spasticity, and dystonia in both
adults and children.
Weldon Mauney, MD
Dr. Mauney is a native of Houston, Texas. He attended medical school at the Unviersidad Nacional de Asunción in Paraguay. Dr. Mauney did his pediatric residency at the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico, specifically at San Luke’s Hospital of Ponce. He performed his child neurology fellowship at Louisiana State University at the Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Dr. Mauney joined the practice of Child Neurology Center in January 2010.
In addition to general pediatric neurology, his areas of special interest include spasticity,dystonia, headaches, sports neurology, and concussion.
Deron Sharpe, MD
Deron Sharpe, MD lived in St. Louis and rural Northeastern Missouri growing up. Deron majored in Biochemistry and went to medical school at the University of Missouri Columbia. Before coming to Child Neurology Center, he worked in Dothan Alabama at a pediatric subspecialty clinic. Outside of medicine, he enjoys restoring his 1980 corvette with his son and raises 40 sheep on his farm in Alabama.
Tracy Ezelle, MSN, APRN, CPNP
Tracy Ezelle was born in Warner Robbins, Georgia. She lived in many different states before settling in Niceville, Florida after her father retired from the Air Force. Tracy attended the University of Florida and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. After working a few years as a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse, she entered graduate school at the University of Florida, where she obtained her Master’s Degree in Nursing. Tracy specialized in pediatrics and became a pediatric nurse practitioner. Previously, she worked as a Primary Care PNP for approximately ten years. Tracy joined Child Neurology Center in 2005. Tracy is the hospitalist of the group, where she sees some of the patients with more complex medical and neurological issues.
Her special areas of interest include migraines and seizures, sports neurology, and concussion, in addition to general pediatric neurology.
Mailande Dedeaux, PA-C
Mailande Dedeaux, PA-C is a native of Pensacola. Mailande graduated from Troy State University where she majored in Sport and Fitness Management. She also played on the women’s volleyball team during this time. Mailande received her Masters of Health Science from the Physician Assistant Studies program at the University of South Alabama. Prior to transitioning to Child Neurology in 2016, Mailande worked in adult general neurology.
In addition to general pediatric neurology, Mailande’s areas of interest include epilepsy, and headaches.
Quynh Nguyen, PA-C
Quynh Nguyen, PA-C is from San Diego, California. She completed her undergraduate studies in San Jose, California in Informational Computer Science; then moved to Florida with her family. She later received her physical therapy assistant degree from Pensacola State College. After working a few years, Quynh received her Masters of Health Science from the Physician Assistant Studies program at Nova Southeastern University. She is the mother of two children.
Quynh has previous experience in adult neurology. Her interests include epilepsy, developmental delay, migraines and concussion.
Shannon Swiderski, MSN, APRN
Shannon Swiderski was born and raised in Minnesota. She moved to Alabama in 2009 and currently resides in Foley, Alabama. She attended the University of South Alabama, where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and pole vaulted for the track and field team. Shannon later earned a Master’s Degree in Nursing from Chamberlain University, specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Before transitioning to Child Neurology Center, she worked seven years in Pediatric ER and two years in Pediatric Inpatient.
In addition to general pediatric neurology, her areas of interest include migraines and concussions.
Genei Bougher, MSN, APRN, CPNP
Genei Bougher, APRN resides in Gulf Breeze, Florida. She began her career after receiving her BSN from Jacksonville University in 1991, caring for patients in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Oncology, and Pediatric ICU at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. After obtaining her MSN from the University of Florida in 1996, Genei joined Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Florida as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, working with children in the Neonatal ICU and pediatric unit. While continuing to see patients at Ascension, Genei joined Child Neurology Center of Northwest Florida that same year, focusing on specialized care to pediatric patients with a variety of neurological disorders.
In addition to general pediatric neurology, Genei is a co-founder and sub-investigator for Northwest Florida Clinical Research Group, where she focuses on the areas of epilepsy, migraines, dystrophy, and, most recently, COVID-19.