All professionals at Next Step Pediatrics maintain the highest levels of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest trends in the medical field. Read on to learn more about our staff's experience and training.
About Dr. Jeff Bucci
Dr. Bucci loves to hike, bike, and travel with his two wonderful daughters. His other hobbies include salt and freshwater aquariums, gardening, and home improvement. He was born in Rome, Italy, and while an infant, his family moved to the United States so his parents could further their careers in biochemical research and academia. Dr. Bucci is conversant in Italian, but English is his primary language.
Dr. Melissa E. Lancer hails from the state of Kansas where she completed her undergraduate and medical school education through the University of Kansas. She completed her pediatric residency training at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas.
Dr. Lancer joined Dr. Bucci in primary care pediatrics (as Dr. Emerson) in 2012 while working as a Pediatric Hospitalist at the UM- St. Joseph's Medical Center, where she cared for a wide variety of pediatric patients including urgent care, emergency medicine, newborn nursery, and inpatient hospitalized patients. Here, she gained a broad knowledge base as well as a firm footing in the surrounding community.
Dr. Lancer is married and has one beautiful child, Liliana Kaye. She enjoys traveling, trying world cuisines, and spending time with her family.
About Dr. Amanda McAneny
Dr. McAneny grew up in a military family and moved frequently, but she proudly considers Maryland home. She completed high school in Southern Maryland and graduated from Wake Forest University. She went on to earn her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society.
Dr. McAneny completed her pediatric residency at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and was honored to serve as chief resident following her training. She is excited to return to the Baltimore area and join the Next Step Pediatrics team. Her husband is a proud Baltimore County native (go Cardinals!), and they are thrilled to be putting down roots in the community.
Outside of work, Dr. McAneny enjoys reading, cooking, baking, home renovation projects, and spending time with her husband, their dog Beans, and two cats, Linus and Lucy. She is currently welcoming new patients and looks forward to caring for children and families in the community.
About Samantha Gerding, CRNP
Sam grew up in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, of the Pocono Mountains. She obtained her degree in Biology from DeSales University where she ran cross country and track and field. She then completed her Nursing degree and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Degree at Thomas Jefferson University, while also working as a Registered Nurse in a pediatric emergency department in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. She joined our practice in November 2019 after relocating to Baltimore, Maryland.
In her free time, Sam loves making memories with her husband, two young sons, and their dog Stanley.
bout Allison Groff DNP, CRN
About Emily Delfino DNP, CRNP-AC
Emily grew up in Baltimore and graduated from The Park
School. She received her Nursing degree from the University of Maryland (Go
Terps!) and spent her last six years of bedside nursing in the Johns Hopkins
Pediatric ICU. Emily most recently attended the Johns Hopkins School of
Nursing where she received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in both
Pediatric Primary Care and Acute Care specialties. Emily adopted her dog
Charlie in 2014 and married her husband Chris in October 2022. In her free
time, she loves to travel, spend time with her family and friends, and is a
huge Ravens fan and UMD basketball fan.
About Charlotte Chudy MSN, RN, CPNP-PC
Charlotte grew up in the state capital of Annapolis, Maryland. She attended the University of Vermont and later returned to Maryland to complete her Nursing and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degrees at Johns Hopkins University. She has been a practicing PNP since 2018 and joined Next Step Pediatrics in January 2023.
Outside of her work, she and her husband enjoy renovating their 100-year old home and spending time with their son and daughter. She also loves visiting family in Annapolis and sailing on the Chesapeake Bay.