The Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology consists of 18 physician faculty members, 6 fellows, 9 nurse practitioners, 22 registered nurses, 4 social workers, 3 hematology/oncology pharmacist specialists, 1.5 psychologist, 5 research assistants in the diagnostic special coagulation and flow cytometry labs, and additional research support staff for clinical trials and division support staff.
The Division treats a wide range of pediatric, adolescent and young adult patients with both oncologic and hematologic disorders. This includes over 125 new oncology patients, performs approximately 20 stem cell transplants each year and over 1,000 cancer survivors receive ongoing follow-up care. Over 400 patients with a wide range of bleeding disorders including hemophilia, von Willebrand disorder, platelet dysfunction and thrombosis are actively followed. The comprehensive Sickle Cell Center has over 700 patients receiving active care from birth through young adulthood.
The Division has over 10,000 outpatient visits per year at the main hospital (Children’s Hospital of Michigan-Midtown Detroit) in our outpatient clinic consisting of 13 exam rooms, 14 infusion rooms, a dedicated operating room/procedure room and an inpatient Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell unit with 32 beds. Outpatient care including chemotherapy/transfusion/infusions are also provided at our suburban satellite ambulatory site at Children’s Hospital of Michigan-Troy.
Evaluation & Diagnosis
Each child is evaluated by our team of specialists and an innovative, individualized customized treatment plan is formulated based on recommendations at our multidisciplinary pediatric tumor board, pediatric neuro-oncology tumor board or hematology board. This also includes the use of genomic analysis for diagnostic purposes and to identify targeted therapies when applicable.
The Division houses nationally recognized CAP certified clinical coagulation (Meera Chitlur: Medical Director) and clinical flow cytometry (Sureyya Savasan: Medical Director) laboratories which aid in the most up to date methods for diagnosing pediatric hematologic and oncologic disorders.
Multiple clinical trials for oncology, hemophilia, thrombotic disorders and sickle cell anemia are available for patients to receive the most up to date diagnostic and therapeutic treatments. The hospital is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group and is also a collaborating site for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital TOT17 acute lymphoblastic leukemia and AML16 acute myeloid leukemia clinical trials - protocols not available elsewhere in Michigan. Children are also eligible for enrollment in Head Start IV clinical trials for next consortium and the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network clinical trials for stem cell
transplants.
Gene Therapy Zynteglo
Children's Hospital of Michigan is revolutionizing beta thalassemia treatment with the groundbreaking gene therapy Zynteglo. This innovative approach involves adding a gene to the patient's bone marrow stem cells, eliminating the need for lifelong interventions and mitigating side effects. Eligible patients can now undergo potentially curative treatment at the hospital, known for its expertise in stem cell transplantation and gene therapy. This milestone reflects the hospital's commitment to exceptional care and fulfills the vision of its founder, Dr. Thomas Benton Cooley. Zynteglo offers hope and relief, particularly for patients of Mediterranean, South Asian, and Middle Eastern descent disproportionately affected by this genetic condition.
Click here to learn more about this life-altering treatment.
Faculty
Advanced Practice Providers
Coordinator/Administrative Assistant
Nurse Manager
The fellowship program dating back to the 1950's, has trained over 100 specialists who have become leaders in the field both nationally and internationally. Current fellowship alumni are practicing at institutions including: Children's Hospital of Michigan, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Children's Hospital-Alabama, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Mercy Children's Hospital Kansas City, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Michigan State University, Valley Children’s Hospital California, University of South Alabama, All India Institute
A component for American Board of Pediatrics certification in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, fellows must conduct a research project. In the recent era, multiple fellows in the division have been recipients of the highly competitive Children’s Hospital of Michigan Wolf Zuelzer Fellowship Research Award.
2020: Katherine Regling, DO
2019: Margaret Shatara, MD
2018: Tristan Knight, MD
2017: Jonathan Schwartz, DO
2016: Ahmar Zaidi, MD
2014: Santosh Hanmod, MD MPH
2013: Mara Rubenstein, MD
2012: Ayesha Zia, MD
2011: Meret Henry, MD
2010: Abdul Hafeez Siddiqui, MD
2009: Ana Xavier, MD [Runner up; Recipient of the St Baldrick’s Foundation/Post-Doctoral Fellowship for Childhood Cancer]
2008: Michael Callaghan, MD
The faculty are actively engaged in conducting multiple clinical and translational research projects in malignant hematology, immunohematology, thrombosis and coagulation disorders and hemoglobinopathies through an academic affiliation with Central Michigan University. The Division research is supported by 4 endowed research chairs [Ring Screw Textron Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cancer; Georgie Ginopolis Chair for Pediatric Cancer and Hematology; Purcell-Lusher Chair for Research in Pediatric Thrombosis Hemostasis; Barnhart-Lusher Hemostasis Research Endowed Chair].
The majority of our research projects/programs and our ability to participate in national clinical trials has been supported by the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation (including the endowed chairs) and organizations including National Institutes of Health, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Kids Without Cancer, U Can-cer Vive Foundation, Litvak Foundation, and the Hemophilia of Georgia Clinical Scientist Development Award program.
For more than two decades, childhood cancer survivors at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan along with their friends and families gather yearly for the Children's Hospital of Michigan Celebration of Life Program. This incredible, heartwarming event is organized by the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Hematology Oncology Department to celebrate childhood cancer survivors treated at Children’s Hospital of Michigan.