Faculty:
Robert I. Parker, M.D., Division Chief
Devina Prakash, MBBS, M.D. (Peds)
M. Yasar Celiker, M.D.
Edward Chan, M.D.
Darla Broberg, PhD (psychology)
Debra Giugliano, RN, CPNP
Rosemary Mahan, RN, CPNP
Jeanne Greenfield, RN, CPNP
Maria Narine, RN, CPNP
The division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology provides the full spectrum of care for children with cancer or diseases of the blood utilizing a multi-disciplinary, patient-centered treatment planning and delivery paradigm.
We see over 40 new cases of childhood cancer and over 350 new hematology consultations each year spanning the full spectrum of diseases in these areas.
Inpatients are cared for on the 11South unit dedicated to the care of children with cancer or blood disorders, while outpatients are seen in a dedicated Pediatric Hematology/Oncology unit in the newly opened
Stony
Brook
University
Cancer
Center adjacent to the
Ambulatory
Surgery
Center on the Medical Center Campus.
The program is a full member of the Children’s Oncology Group, an NIH/National Cancer Institute sponsored consortium comprised of over 200 pediatric oncology programs in the
US,
Canada,
New Zealand,
Australia, the
Netherlands,
Switzerland and
Israel, dedicated to improving the cure and care of children with cancer.
Through involvement with COG, the Stony Brook program has access to the latest in cancer treatments and the ability to participate in cutting-edge basic science and translational research.
It is widely agreed that the best possible care for a child with cancer involves treatment on an approved clinical trial.
Stony Brook University Medical Center has the resources and technology to provide the most modern care to children with cancer including autologous stem cell (bone marrow) transplantation, limb salvage surgery for bone tumors and the most modern modalities of radiation therapy including intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery.
For those few times when treatment is not available at Stony Brook, such as the need for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation or proton-beam radiation therapy, we work with the family and their insurers to get the child to an appropriate center for this therapy.
Survival statistics for our patients is at or above national results for each of the high volume cancers we see.
Divisional research activities continue in the area of childhood brain tumors.
These studies, in collaboration with Dr. Marian Evinger, PhD, are focused on identifying molecular abnormalities which might give insight into the biology of brain tumor cancer cells and be targets for more specific therapy.
Similar studies investigating neuroblastoma and other childhood solid tumors are underway by Dr. Chan in his laboratory.
Dr. Parker and other members of the division are investigating the nature and causes of chemotherapy-induced osteopenia and osteoporosis.
We also understand that while cure is the goal, it is not enough.
We strive to provide a “kid and family friendly” environment both on the 11South inpatient unit and in the clinic.
We have active involvement of the Child-life program and we have recruited a staff of inpatient and outpatient nurses who see their job as taking care of the whole child and the entire family.
While we know that we can not make cancer in a child a trivial event, we can minimize the trauma to the entire family such a diagnosis creates.
The program has developed multiple ancillary programs to meet this goal.
“Our little Heroes” is the only support group on
Long Island for he families of children with cancer and was created and is run by our NPs along with the assistance of
Dr. Darla Broberg our clinical psychologist.
Our School Re-entry program, designed to facilitate our kid’s re-integration into school was developed by Debra Giugliano and Paulette Walters (Child-life) and has won national acclaim for its activities and effectiveness.
This remains the only such program in the NY metropolitan area and a model for similar programs nationwide.
If these activities weren’t enough, our staff supports the American Cancer Society camp for children with cancer and their siblings,
Camp
Adventure, run on
Shelter
Island each year.
Dr. Parker serves as the medical director for this camp.
The division has also partnered with the
School of
Health Technology department of Physical and Rehabilitation Therapy in a successful Lance Armstrong Foundation application to develop a physical training program for survivors of childhood cancer.
As a result of their broad experience in taking care of children with cancer and their families, Dr Parker and Debra Giugliano, the lead NP in the program, were asked to write a book for parents and non-oncology medical personnel discussing medical and non-medical issues of this issue.
This book is scheduled to be published by the
University of
Mississippi Press this spring – look for it on the NY Times Best Seller list!!!
The Pediatric Oncology Program in conjunction with a group of dedicated parents established The Sunrise Fund in 2000 to raise awareness and funds for the treatment of childhood cancer patients at Stony Brook.
Our staff continues to be active in the community to address these goals.
Funds raised through the Sunrise Fund have been used to support hospital programs such as creation of the 11South parent respite facility, support family needs including the Our Little Hero’s support group and research into the causes of childhood cancer.
A very unique program supported by the Sunrise Fund is the
Danny Brooks Memorial Educational Award established by the Pediatric Oncology staff to honor a former patient who entered a career in Special Education prior to his untimely death in an automobile accident.
All “graduates” of the oncology program receive an award, generally $1,000, to support each year of post-high school education whether it be at the vocational, junior college or college level.
This past year, we mailed out 20 $1,000 checks to our former patients.
Information about and upcoming activities of the Sunrise Fund, including our annual walk-a-thon with the staff and students at the St. James Elementary School (titled “Children helping Children”) can be found on the Sunrise Fund web site (
www.sunrisefund.org
).
The hematology component of the clinical program is equally robust.
Under the direction of Dr. Prakash we have the only NY State certified Sickle Cell Anemia program in
Suffolk
County, and we have the only lysosomal storage disease treatment center in
Suffolk
County directed by Dr. Parker.
This program provides diagnostic and therapeutic support for children and adults with Gaucher disease and related disorders for which enzyme replacement therapy is available (e.g., Fabray disease).
While Stony Brook does not have a comprehensive hemophilia program, we actively follow and care for children in
Suffolk
County who have hemophilia and other inherited and acquired bleeding disorders.
APPOINTMENTS:
631-638-1000
SCHEDULE:
MORNINGS:
as needed for emergencies/urgent visits
AFTERNOONS:
Monday:
Dr. Chan
Tuesday:
Drs Parker & Prakash
Wednesday:
Drs Parker & Celiker
Thursday:
Drs Prakash & Celiker
Friday:
urgent/emergency visits
AMBULATORY PEDICATRIC HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY CLINIC
On Monday February 5th, the pediatric hematology/oncology clinic moved in to the
Stony
Brook
University
Cancer
Center on the 2nd floor of the new Ambulatory Care Pavilion located adjacent to the
Ambulatory
Surgery
Center on the Medical Center Campus.
This move has allowed the division to expand office hours to 5 days a week for the convenience of patients and community physicians.
The new “clinic”, comprising
XXXX square feet, has an open, airy waiting room with a playroom and a flat screen plasma TV tuned to “kid friendly” entertainment.
In addition, there are 5 regular and 2 isolation exam rooms and a large “Procedure/Infusion Room” to accommodate children and families who are receiving intravenous infusions, blood product transfusions or who need prolonged monitoring in the course of their care.
A 2 “chair” private transfusion suiote is also attached to the larger procedure/infusion room for those children and young adults who require or request transfusions in a more private setting.
Each exam room has internet and Stony Brook intranet access to allow for direct viewing of digitized radiographic studies with the family members.
Each of the isolation exam rooms and infusion chairs has state of the art monitoring capabilities for patient safety, and a flat screen TV for patient convenience.
All in all, the move has been greeted by nothing but positive comments by the kids and families.
The program now has a facility that complements the quality of care provided by the staff.
