Current Fellows

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, staying active (e.g. barre classes, hiking), and finding new cities to explore.

Research/QI interests: Optimizing disease-directed therapy and supportive care for patients with high-risk acute leukemias, specifically AML. Will be pursuing a pediatric critical care medicine fellowship with the goal of a career in oncocritical care and dual appointment in oncology and pediatric critical care. Current research projects include Early Sepsis Recognition in Hospitalized Immunocompromised Patients (an investigator-initiated grant-funded project bridging oncology and critical care), and Investigating the Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients with Cancer or Sickle Cell Disease (both funded by investigator-initiated grants).

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 IU/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, University Park PA

Graduate School: Indiana University, Indianapolis IN

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), Blacksburg VA

Residency: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC
Hobbies: Baking (recently started making sourdough), wine tasting, hiking with my dog, and growing my house plant collection

Research/QI interests: My clinical focus is neuro-oncology and I will be pursuing a pediatric neuro-onc fellowship after my PHO fellowship. My research interest is in Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) and it’s role in cancer cachexia and modulating tumor microenvironment to affect treatment response and long-term outcomes. I’m evaluating tumor GDF15 expression in local patients (identified through our Precision Genomics program here at Riley), national patients (identified through the Treehouse Cancer Initiative from UCSC), and international patients (identified through the Children’s Brain Tumor Network). My QI project is improving our multidisciplinary Mediastinal Mass Pathway to expedite biopsy and initiation of therapy for patients with mediastinal masses. I’m also working on a master’s in clinical research during fellowship.

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 these very special patients!

Why Riley: My interview day was so wonderful! The faculty and fellows were very welcoming, and they seemed to really like working together and I can attest that’s the case! This work can be difficult but having kind, compassionate, and hardworking colleagues makes the days so much better!

Medical School: Universidad Latina de Costa Rica
Residency: Einstein healthcare network, Philadelphia, PA
Hobbies: Running, Reading, Cooking, and My favorite spending quality time with my family
Research/QI Interests: Global health and Stem cell transplant.

Why PHO? The patients! The strength of these patients battling cancer is truly inspiring, as they navigate through incredibly challenging circumstances with incredible courage. I also love the complex medical part, so many pieces to put together! Equally significant is the relationship that’s built with the patients and their families.

Why IU/Riley? It checked all my boxes!! I wanted to be in a place where my profession and personal growth mattered, and where learning was a priority. That’s exactly what I found.