Photo of caregiver and child holding hands during medical treatment

Pediatric Hematology / Oncology

The Division of Hematology/Oncology at MUSC Children's Hospital treats the whole patient in a comprehensive fashion. Our top priority is to improve the life expectancy and quality of life for each child we treat - from the time they come to us through their adulthood. With the only pediatric blood and marrow transplant (BMT) program and certified CAR-T immunotherapy program in South Carolina, MUSC is a leader in providing cutting-edge pediatric cancer treatments. 

The pediatric cancer program continues to be ranking in the top 50 programs in the country by US News and World Report. For outcomes alone, MUSC's pediatric cancer program ranks 15th out of 193 programs for 2020. The 2019 outcomes report from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research show that out of 170 BMT centers, we are one of only 17 centers to achieve survival outcomes better than predicted.

Our Faculty

Research Programs

Hematology / Oncology Division Programs Blood and Marrow Transplant Program

Director: Michelle Hudspeth M.D. Additional Physicians: Paige DePriest, M.D.; Jennifer Jaroscak, M.D.

The BMT program is fully accredited by FACT (Foundation for Accreditation for Cellular Therapy) and an active participant in clinical trials through the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium (PBMTC), the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT-CTN), the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), and other industry and multi-center trials. We are participating in the Bluebird Bio gene therapy trial for sickle cell disease.

We perform autologous, related allogeneic, unrelated allogeneic, cord blood and haploidentical transplants. While the majority of our transplants are for malignant diseases, we also perform transplants for non-malignant conditions such as sickle cell disease, aplastic anemia, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and Fanconi anemia. We are also a collection center for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). We have a full staff of BMT coordinators, data managers, and clinical trial coordinators dedicated to the transplant patients.

Fellows participate in our weekly BMT intake/patient review meetings and have the opportunity to participate in new patient consultations, bone marrow harvests, and our monthly quality management meetings.

Brain Tumor Program

Director: Sandeep Kuril, M.D.

Our team comprises of a full-time neuro-oncologist, nurse practitioner, patient coordinator, social worker, two pediatric neurosurgeons and a radiation oncologist. There is a quarterly multi-disciplinary clinic involving pediatric neurosurgery, pediatric oncology, radiation oncology, and pediatric neurology. Fellows participate in the pre-clinic case conference where patients are presented and the pathology and radiology scans are reviewed. Fellows are exposed to the multi-disciplinary approach for these patients and gain additional exposure to tumors that do not require chemotherapy treatment. In addition, there is a weekly clinic where fellows actively participate in care for active and newly diagnosed brain tumor patients. Other than Children’s Oncology Group and Beat Childhood Cancer clinical trials there are multiple ongoing collaborative multi-institutional clinical trials through which fellows can get understanding of various cutting-edge therapies in the field.

FACT (Follow up after Cancer Treatment) Program

Director: Anca Dumitriu, M.D.    Clinic Coordinator: Sheri Fannin, RN, BSN, CCRN  

Follow-Up After Cancer Treatment (F.A.C.T.) is an integrated part of cancer management. Our F.A.C.T. program offers cancer survivors the opportunity to continue follow-up care based on the latest recommendations from the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).  Established in 1994, we manage over 300 cancer survivors with the goal of recognizing and minimizing side effects related to their cancer treatment. Whether our survivors were treated at MUSC or another institution, we typically transition them to F.A.C.T. when they are 5 years off active treatment. We continue to follow our survivors in clinic yearly until the age of 30. We aim to offer guidance and continue education in regards to their diagnosis and long term health care needs after treatment.  By collaborating with multiple sub-specialists, we offer our cancer survivors a multi-disciplinary approach to their survivorship plan.

As part of our fellowship education, we incorporate our fellows into F.A.C.T. on a regular basis to provide them with the knowledge necessary for their career. Our fellows are encouraged to participate in our morning team meeting and projects related to survivorship. We provide education with scheduled lectures, written materials from updated guidelines, and hands on patient care. 

Hematology Program

Director: Shayla Bergmann, M.D. Additional Physicians: Andrew James Picca, D.O.; Christina Abrams, M.D.

This clinic provides initial, ongoing and tertiary care to children with all hematological conditions including bleeding and clotting abnormalities, thrombosis, thalassemias, hemoglobinopathies, anemias, mastocytosis, and rare hematological diagnoses. Patients are evaluated by a pediatric hematologist and a nurse practitioner or fellow. Clinical trials are frequently available for thrombosis patients.     

Hemophilia Clinic

Director: Shayla Bergmann, M.D.

This clinic provides tertiary care services to children with hemophilia as well as children with von Willebrand Disease, Factor VII deficiency and other bleeding disorders. Patients are evaluated by a pediatric hematologist, nurse coordinator, social worker, and physical therapist to develop a multidisciplinary plan of care. A genetic counseling team is also available. Appointments are made as needed in the hematology clinic, where children are seen by the hematologist and the hematology/oncology clinic nurses. We actively participate in current national/international clinical trials involving hemophilia A and B, von Willebrand disease and gene therapy.

Vascular Anomalies Program

Member: Shayla Bergmann, MD; Director: Lara Wine-Lee, MD

Depending on the specific condition, a vascular anomaly may require multiple treatments by a team of pediatric specialists. Because these lesions can occur in any part of the body, treatment and diagnosis from all medical specialties may be necessary.

We have a multi-disciplinary patient review conference to discuss and plan multi-modality treatments for these complex patients.

For a child with a vascular anomaly, the following pediatric specialists may be involved: pediatrician, interventional radiologist, surgeon, dermatologist, plastic surgeon, hematologist/oncologist, otorhinolaryngology, and other pediatric surgical specialists. 

Sickle Cell Program

Director: Christina Abrams M.D. and Shayla Bergmann, M.D.

The sickle cell clinic is available for comprehensive care, chronic transfusions, and coordinated care with the hemapheresis team for partial red blood cell exchanges as well as for acute management issues such as fever and pain.  We maintain a diverse clinical trial portfolio with options for our patients.  We are also participating in the Bluebird Bio gene therapy trial.  We also have consultations and clinical trial options available for bone marrow transplantation for sickle cell disease. Fellow have opportunities to care for these patients in both the outpatient and inpatient setting.

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Contact Us

Medical University of South Carolina
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
125 Rutledge Avenue
MSC 558
Charleston, SC 29425
Phone: 843-792-2957
Fax: 843-792-8912
Email: pechenay@musc.edu