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New York University Medical Center
Pediatric Oncology Program

View more photos from the New York University Medical Center Pediatric Oncology Program

At more than 200 Children's Oncology Group member institutions worldwide such as the New York University Medical Center, dedicated physicians, nurses and scientists conduct clinical trials and perform research to identify cancer causes and pioneer treatments and cures. The mission of the Pediatric Oncology Program at NYU Medical Center is to provide research-driven, family-centered and highly personalized care to children with cancer and blood diseases. Compassionate, comprehensive and contemporary care is the hallmark of NYU Medical Center, one of the nation's premier centers of excellence in health care, biomedical research and medical education. NYU Hospitals Center consistently ranks among the nation's top hospitals in U.S. News & World Report's annual survey of health care providers. In addition, the Pediatric Oncology Program is part of the NYU Cancer Institute, one of only 61 National Institutes of Health (NIH)-designated cancer centers.

Key Staff

Division Chief	William Carroll, M.D.
Manager, Inpatient Unit	Gail Geraghty, RN, Inpatient Nurse Manager
Manager, Outpatient Unit	Jessica Tahaney, RN, Outpatient Nurse Coordinator
Principal Investigator, COG	Elizabeth Raetz, MD
Director, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program	Sharon Gardner, MD

Clinical Services

Clinical care is delivered at Tisch Hospital and Bellevue Medical Center and at the outpatient day hospital, the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Established in 1990, the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders’ integrated approach combines the latest medical treatments with psychosocial and emotional support services for patients ranging from birth to young adulthood. The Center treats children with cancer and blood disorders including brain tumors, bone and soft tissue sarcomas, leukemias, vascular malformations and other diseases of the blood such as platelet and blood-clotting disorders.

Alex Cuello, a patient at NYU's Hassenfeld Children's Center, says :

"Hassenfeld means a lot to me...it means happiness. It is a place where you can come and release any stress that I may have been having."

There are approximately 5,000 patient visits to the Hassenfeld Center each year, representing more than 700 patients. A newly renovated, expanded Center will be opening in October 2006. At NYU, patients also receive treatment at the 35-bed pediatric inpatient unit at Tisch Hospital, where they are followed by an interdisciplinary team of pediatric ocologists, surgeons, nurse practitioners, nurses, fellows and psychosocial support staff.

Clinical care for Pediatric Oncology is further strengthened by the nationally recognized Nursing team at NYU Medical Center. In 2004, NYUMC received the Magnet Award from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This award recognizes the high caliber of nursing care that NYU nurses provide to patients in the inpatient and outpatient setting. The nurses are an asset to the Pediatric Oncology Program and are continually working to provide patients with exceptional care.

The current focus of the Pediatric Quality & Performance Improvement Council is to improve and standardize the care of children and adolescents with cancer. The Association of Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Nurses (APHON) recently developed a pediatric chemotherapy and biotherapy curriculum to identify standards for administration of chemotherapy and biotherapy. Enabled by grant funding, pediatric oncology nursing staff at NYU is receiving training on practice and implementation of the national standards.