As a pediatric hematologist, I specialize in disorders of bleeding and blood clotting. I treat children and adolescents with conditions such as hemophilia, von Willebrand disease and disordered menstrual bleeding. I often see patients in the Young Women’s Bleeding Disorder Clinic and the Hemophilia Treatment Center.

I was inspired to pursue my career by my family’s general practitioner, Dr. Cash, who was an exemplary model of how to take care of patients. During medical school at University of Missouri, I was drawn to hematology/oncology because of the science involved in this specialty. I chose pediatrics because I discovered and appreciate that children are much more responsive to following their care plan than adults.

Dr. Bob Janco encouraged my interest in hematology and blood clotting disorders during my residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. My fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital included mentoring by Dr. Ralph Gruppo and Dr. Jay Degen, who pointed me in the direction of my current position.

In addition to treating patients, I perform research. My team and I are examining the impact of blood clotting factors on neurologic disease – diseases of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. We have found that blood clotting plays a key role in the progression of multiple sclerosis, and we hope to find ways to intervene in this disease process.