Overview
I have a strong belief that all children diagnosed with cancer should have the same chance of cure regardless of where they live. Since 2014, i have spent six or more months per year in Mwanza, Tanzania, at the Bugando Medical Centre as part of the Duke Global Cancer Program. In addition to developing capacity for pediatric cancer care, my research focuses on creating interventions to improve outcomes and reducing treatment abandonment in low resource settings.
As a trained pediatric neuro-oncologist, I am also involved in neuro-oncology capacity development in Sub-Saharan Africa, and am collaborating with a multidisciplinary team in Tanzania to establish diagnostic and treatment opportunities for patients.
As a trained pediatric neuro-oncologist, I am also involved in neuro-oncology capacity development in Sub-Saharan Africa, and am collaborating with a multidisciplinary team in Tanzania to establish diagnostic and treatment opportunities for patients.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
·
2023 - Present
Pediatrics, Hematology-Oncology,
Pediatrics
Associate Research Professor of Global Health
·
2023 - Present
Duke Global Health Institute,
University Institutes and Centers
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
·
2020 - Present
Duke Cancer Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
Rituximab for children with EBV-positive Burkitt lymphoma in East Africa.
Journal Article Blood Adv · February 21, 2025 The addition of rituximab to the chemotherapy backbone was shown to significantly improve outcomes of children with aggressive high-grade lymphomas in high-income countries. However, data on its safety, and efficacy in children with Epstein-Barr-Virus-posi ... Full text Link to item CiteChildhood Cancer Survivorship Care in Limited Resource Settings: A Narrative Review and Strategies to Promote Global Health Equity.
Journal Article JCO Glob Oncol · February 2025 The WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, prompted by the marked inequity of survival across the globe, aims to increase survival rates in low- and middle-income countries to 60% by 2030. In tandem with this effort, implementing survivorship-focused ... Full text Link to item CiteTargeted Next-Generation Sequencing of Cell-Free DNA to Detect MYC-Immunoglobulin Translocation and Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Plasma of Burkitt Lymphoma Patients in East Africa.
Journal Article JCO Glob Oncol · January 2025 PURPOSE: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive Burkitt lymphoma (BL) affects children in sub-Saharan Africa, but diagnosis via tissue biopsy is challenging. We explored a liquid biopsy approach using targeted next-generation sequencing to detect the MYC-immuno ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Improving access to cancer care for children in Tanzania: Designing a health-systems intervention
ResearchAdvisor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2027Multimedia caregiver education program to improve outcomes for children with cancer in low-resource settings
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2023 - 2025Improving Chemotherapy Safe Handling at Bugando Medical Center
ResearchSignificant Contributor · Awarded by Perrysburg Rotary Service Foundation · 2022 - 2024View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Georgetown University, School of Medicine ·
2007
M.D.
West Virginia University ·
2002
M.P.H.