Distinguished Experts
Leadership for the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is provided by Clinton Joiner, MD, PhD, program director, and Karen Kalinyak, MD, clinical director.
Dr. Joiner provides leadership in the field on a national level, as a member of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America’s Medical and Research Advisory Committee. He also leads a consortium that participates in the Sickle Cell Disease Clinical Research Network, which is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. This gives families timely access to the newest treatment options, clinical research efforts and patient education programs. The consortium includes Cincinnati Children’s, University of Cincinnati Hospital, Ohio State University, and Nationwide (Columbus) Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Kalinyak brings over 25 years of clinical experience in treating sickle cell disease. She is also an expert clinical researcher and has participated in dozens of national clinical trials.
Lori Crosby, PsyD, works closely with the sickle cell team to meet the psychological and educational needs of patients. She also develops programs to identify barriers that prevent patients from taking full advantage of treatment opportunities.
Other Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center physicians who care for patients and conduct laboratory research include:
- Jose A. Cancelas, MD, PhD
- Elke Grassman, PhD
- Clinton H. Joiner, MD, PhD
- Theodosia Kalfa, MD, PhD
- Punam Malik, MD
- Dao Pan, PhD
- Qishen Pang, PhD
- Ajay Perumbeti, MD
- Lilith Reeves, MS
- Han van der Loo, PhD
- David A. Williams, MD
Exceptional Nursing
Nurse practitioners Jen Benton, RN, Peggy Kaiser, RN, Darice Morgan, RN, and Kathy Schibler, RN, care for patients in collaboration with physicians.
Nurse coordinators Patrica Boyd, RN, Tracy Mahoney, RN, and Lisa Ovesen, RN, work closely with families and patients to organize clinic visits and coordinate care with other team members.
