I am a hematologist/oncologist at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. I treat children with a variety of conditions including leukemia, solid tumors, sarcomas, benign hematologic disorders, benign tumors and coagulation defects.
 
I learned very early on in my medical training that I wanted to work caring for children. I am inspired by the way children face complex health conditions with grace, optimism and fierce resilience.
 
In addition to patient care, I also led Joe DiMaggio’s efforts to obtain accreditation as a Pediatric Cancer Program recognized by the Commission on Cancer, a program of the American College of Surgeons that recognizes cancer programs for their commitment to provide comprehensive, high-quality and multidisciplinary patient-centered care. I continue to serve as chairwoman in this position as we continue to expand and improve our services for patients. 

Hospital Affiliations

• Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital
• Memorial Regional Hospital

Gender

• Female

Languages

• Spanish

Residency

Texas Tech University Health Science Center, 2006, Pediatrics

Fellowships

University Of Alabama Medical Center, 2009, Pediatric Oncology and Hematology

Certifications

American Board of Pediatrics-Pediatric Oncology and Hematology
American Board of Pediatrics-Pediatrics

Publications

• “Identification of Leukemia Stem cells associated with AML1-ETO through characterization of oncogene-induced changes in cell surface profiles in hematopoitic stem cells,” abstract, ASH meeting, 2008

Research

At Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, I am involved in the Children’s Oncology Group and we are able to give our patients the option to participate in clinical trials. This offers them a wider range of treatment options that may not yet be available elsewhere, all while receiving treatment close to their home.
 
I am also interested in researching treatment options and therapies for various types of leukemia, sarcomas and hematologic disorders.

Professional Organizations

• American Association for Cancer Research
• American Society of Hematology

Awards

• Outstanding First-year Pediatric Resident, TTUHSC, 2003-2004
• Chief Resident Pediatrics, TTUHSC, 2005-2006
• Chairman Award, TTUHSC, 2006
• Magic Moment Fellow, 2006-2007