I have always enjoyed caring for patients and their families, and I appreciate the unique bond that forms during treatment. But as a physician, I’ve experienced the devastating impact bloodstream infections can have on children. On more than one occasion, my team has successfully cured a child’s cancer using stem cell transplant, only to lose them later to a bloodstream infection.
As a result, my research focuses on identifying, testing and implementing clinical strategies to help improve outcomes after stem cell transplantation for malignancy. My clinical work compliments my research focus since I am the physician lead for the autologous stem cell transplant program, caring for many patients with leukemia. I prioritize patient safety, quality improvement, and the prevention of bloodstream infections and cardiopulmonary complications, such as pulmonary hypertension.
Cincinnati Magazine recognized me as a Top Doctor in 2019 and 2020. Also, our Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute Quality Improvement and Patient Safety team won the Ohio Patient Safety Institute’s Dr. Frank Dono Best Practice Award.
I am co-editor of the book Patient Safety and Quality in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, published in 2017 by Springer. I’ve served in several local and national leadership roles, including the co-physician lead for the Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS) Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) reduction collaboration.
I serve as the vice chair of the American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) Committee on Quality Outcomes. I am co-chair of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) Infection and Immune Reconstitution Working Committee.