Current Fellows

Undergraduate School: Grambling State University
Postbaccalaureate Research: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: Pediatrics; Indiana University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Singing, Composing Music, Graphic Design, Writing, Reading
Research/QI Interests: Research: Interested in developing mortality and morbidity risk stratification systems for patients with Sickle Cell Disease both pre and post-curative therapy and disease-modifying therapies using artificial intelligence.  QI: Improving outpatient pain plan delivery and pediatric transition to adult care for patients with Sickle Cell Disease using informatics solutions.

Why PHEM?: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology fills me with compassion, motivates me to develop research questions, and inspires me to learn more about the field every day. Further, I enjoy teaching and Peds Heme/Onc provides a very special and sacred opportunity to share knowledge with patients and families during some of the most challenging times of their lives. I truly feel called to serve patients and their families within this specialty. 

Why IU/Riley?: For starters, IU School of Medicine housed both of my fellowship training programs! I am grateful to take part in the unique opportunity to be one of two persons in the US training in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Clinical Informatics fellowships simultaneously. Riley has phenomenal research teams, supportive leadership, and fantastic teaching faculty and nursing staff who have all rallied to support my career in academic medicine.  Even more, the beautiful facilities and repeatedly US-ranked pediatric subspecialty programs make Riley a fun and exciting place to work. 

Undergraduate School: Olivet Nazarene University
Medical School:  Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Prisma Health Midlands in Columbia, SC
Hobbies: running, live music, travel, and finding local food and drinks and friends
Research/QI Interests: My research is in the development of gene therapy for Hemophilia A. My QI interests are related to humanizing patients, particularly our sickle cell patient population

Why PHEM? I love heme/onc because it’s the perfect of inpatient and outpatient, acute care and continuity with deep and meaningful patient relationships. I also love that it incorporates all the medical specialties and utilizes all the parts of medicine that we learned in med school. 

Why IU/Riley?  I chose Riley because of the people, as soon as I interviewed I could feel that everyone was close knit and collegial. I’ve always felt supported by everyone in my program. I also love Indianapolis and couldn’t wait to move back to the Midwest!

Undergraduate School: Drexel University
Graduate School: Drexel University School of Public Health
Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Lehigh Valley Hospital (Pediatrics)
Hobbies: Reading, knitting, baking, spending time with my partner and our kids
Research/QI interests: Pediatric clinical ethics, palliative care/supportive oncology, narrative medicine, physician mental health

Why PHO: I love the long-term relationships that I get to form with my patients and feel that it is truly a privilege to get to care for these families. I also enjoy the varied and complex pathology, the active research within the field, and having lots of opportunities to teach.

Why Riley: I knew I could get incredible training at many of the places where I had interviewed, but Riley had other opportunities that weren't available everywhere, including training in clinical ethics, dedicated pediatric palliative care, and narrative medicine. Plus, the faculty were all amazing and people that I knew would not only be wonderful physicians, but also teachers and friends.

Undergraduate School: Greenville College, Greenville IL
Graduate School: Loma Linda University, Loma Linda CA
Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines IA
Residency: Maine Medical Center, Portland ME
Hobbies: Exploring local coffee shops. Trying to stay active - spin classes, barre classes, hiking
Research/QI interests: Undecided officially. Potentially the incorporation of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) into the care of pediatric hematology/oncology patients, therapeutic options for high risk childhood malignancies, immunotherapy, streamlining systems-based issues

Why PHO: Largely the people - patients are resilient and strong teachers, and the relationships borne out of continuity of complex care and difficult conversations are unparalleled. Pediatric hematology/oncology also offers opportunities to combine much of what I enjoy in clinical practice - inpatient and outpatient management, care for stable and critically ill patients, and procedures.

Why Riley: …also largely the people! I felt a strong, supportive community and immediately felt comfortable - even during a virtual interview.

Undergraduate School: Penn State University
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopatic Medicine (VCOM) - VA Campus
Residency: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Hobbies: Baking, wine tasting, hiking with my dog, growing my house plant collection
Research/QI interests: Undecided.

Why PHO: It's the best job in the world! These kiddos and families are the reason I come to work. They're kind, graceful, resilient, inspiring, and joyful in the most difficult time in their lives. Peds Heme/Onc is also an ever-changing and advancing field of medicine which is so exciting. I feel so honored to have the opportunity to care for this very special population!

Why Riley: My interview day was so fun and relaxed. Everyone was warm and welcoming and seem to really care about me as a person as a whole. They're my people! I also know I will get a fantastic education here from patient volume and scope to research opportunities. I'm also looking forward to exploring a new region of the country!