Overview
My clinical and research experiences embody a holistic approach to cancer and blood disorders that aims to understand and maximize the therapeutic potential of interventions and utilize health policy to improve quality of life and outcomes for underserved patients.
I began my research career in oncology by studying the effects of TP53 mutations to identify alleles that are deleterious or activated under certain genomic and environmental conditions. As my understanding of the field expanded, I began to appreciate the importance of a holistic, humanistic approach to treating cancer and blood disorders, as it is not a purely physical ailment. I have studied the effects of integrative oncology by writing grant proposals to study the positive effects of meditation, yoga and Bacopa Monnieri, a herbal supplement, on the effects of cancer-related cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients. Additionally, I have studied the cultural influences on health by researching the effects of a culturally sensitive cognitive-behavioral stress management protocol on heart rate variability of breast cancer survivors. In residency, I worked on the genomic analysis of Down Syndrome ALL, specifically the role of deubiquintase USP9x in DS-ALL. My research during fellowship focused on developing novel therapeutic nanoscale drugs for treatment of pediatric malignancies including AML, ETP-ALL and infant leukemia using a high throughput screening approach and liposome formulation. Currently, our research group is applying to patent the methods and nanoscale particles developed, and I am listed as an inventor. This research has the potential to guide new clinical trial development in childhood leukemia as well as inform optimal drug dosing and therapy.
My advocacy work in human trafficking created my leadership foundation. As a recipient of the competitive Arsht Research on Ethics and Community grant in Miami and as the Anti-Human Trafficking Chair for Doctors for Change in Houston, I founded a multidisciplinary clinic in Miami for victims of human trafficking and co-developed a city-wide victim services model that includes healthcare in Houston with federal funding from the Office for Victims of Crime. My extensive advocacy experience includes education of healthcare professionals and legislative advocacy at the local, state and national levels. I have expanded my advocacy work to my subspecialty of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and participated in the American Society of Hematology Advocacy Leadership Institute, Hemophilia Academy and the American Academy of Pediatrics Legislative Conference. I am the advocacy committee co-chair for the American Women's Medical Association Physicians Against the Trafficking of Humans and president-elect for 2025. The leadership experience gained from this work has built the foundation to become a leader in my career in pediatric hematology-oncology.
My research in hematology began with a medically complex case of a young girl with polycythemia vera. As I managed her medically complex care and reached out to national experts to help guide her care, I was able to collaborate nationally with several institutions on a retrospective review of pediatric patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms treated with interferon. My interest in hematology has expanded and my current clinical position entails me seeing benign hematology in the outpatient setting specifically focused on hemostasis and thrombosis at Duke University Medical Center. I served as the pediatric director of the Arizona Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center-Tucson, the Women’s Bleeding Disorder Clinic and the pediatric Sickle Cell program at Banner University Medical Center Tucson and the University of Arizona Department of Pediatrics for three years from 2021-2024. During this time, I was the site principal investigator on the Health Resources and Services Administration grant with the Pacific Sickle Cell Regional Collaborative that strives to improve the health and quality of life of individuals with sickle cell disease and also developed institutional guidelines for sickle cell disease. I have worked on initiatives to improve quality of life for patients with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and women with bleeding disorders. I am passionate about utilizing health policy to improve quality of life and outcomes for underserved patients. I have written several case reports and review articles in the field of pediatric hematology-oncology and presented my work both nationally and internationally.