Department
Cancer & Hematology Center
Our Team & Fellows
Director, Cancer and Hematology Center
Dr. Susan Blaney is the David G. Poplack, M.D. Chair of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Texas Children's Hospital, the Elise C. Young Chair of Pediatric Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine, Director of Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center and Division Chief of Hematology/Oncology for… read more
Phone: 832-822-1482
Fellowship Director
Dr. YoungNa Lee-Kim is Director of the Fellowship Program in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center.
She is a clinical member of the Hematology Center and the Hemostasis and Thrombosis team, and sees patients in the Hemophilia Treatment Center. Dr. Lee-Kim's… read more
Phone: 832-822-4362
Associate Fellowship Director
Dr. Joseph Lubega is Associate Director of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, Associate Director of the East Africa Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Training Program and Chair of the Pediatric East Africa Clinical Oncology Consortium (PEACOC). He was previously the… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
2017-2020 Fellows
Dr. Kelsey Bertrand completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. Prior to her fellowship training, she completed her residency at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Bertrand first became interested in clinical pediatric oncology when she was in graduate school … read more
Dr. Matthew Campbell completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020, through Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital where he was honored to serve as Chief Fellow from 2019-2020 in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program.
Dr. Campbell received his… read more
Dr. Shannon Conneely completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. Prior to her fellowship training, she worked at Texas Children's Hospital on the inpatient oncology unit as a hospitalist assisting in the medical care of a variety of pediatric oncology patients.
She… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Emily Hsieh completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020.
Dr. Emily Hsieh decided to pursue a career in hematology/oncology after she realized that this field was the perfect blend of everything she wanted in a career: continuity of care with her patients and… read more
Dr. Ross Mangum completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. He is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Dr. Mangum was initially drawn to the field of pediatric hematology/oncology after observing the incredible strength of patients and families dealing… read more
Dr. Lauren Scherer completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. She is board-certified in General Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. She enjoys taking care of all children with blood and cancer disorders. However, her area of interest is pediatric leukemia.… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Omar Shakeel completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. He is board certified in general pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Shakeel completed his undergraduate education at the University of Florida and later his medical education at the University… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Mark Zobeck completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. He is passionate about caring for children with cancer and blood disorders. His goal is to care for the entire family, not only by treating the patient's illness, but also by walking alongside families as a… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
2018-2021 Fellows
Dr. Maria Castellanos completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021. She is board-certified in General Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Dr. Matthew McEvoy began his pediatric solid tumor fellowship in 2021 and completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021. As a clinical fellow, he cared for patients in all the Hematology-Oncology and BMT programs.
Dr. McEvoy completed his residency in Pediatrics at… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Thomas Pfeiffer completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021.
Dr. Zachary Prudowsky completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021. He is board certified in General Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Xavier Rios completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021.
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Austin Stuckert, Chief Fellow 2020-2021, completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021. She is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Phone: 832-822-4242
2019-2022 Fellows
Dr. Shreya Agarwal started her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2019.
After finishing medical school in India, Dr Agarwal worked as a postdoctoral research fellow in the department of Clinical and Translational Sciences in Creighton University before joining pediatric residency… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Michelle Choe, Chief Fellow 2021-2022, started her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2019. Having been on the other side of the stethoscope prior to starting medical school, Dr. Choe decided she wanted to give back by providing exceptional care to others. She remains… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Shaniqua Anum started her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2019. Dr. Anum has had clinical and research interests in childhood blood disorders since medical school. Her decision to become a hematologist began in medical school, with her unique interests in clinical pathology… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Kristen Kurtz started her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2019. She has served children with a combination of developmental and mental health needs for over a decade, and is excited to specialize in pediatric oncology with a focus on bone marrow transplant. She also has a… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Jay Read started his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2019. Dr. Read decided to pursue a career as a Hematologist/Oncologist because of the relationships he developed with patients and their families during his medical school and residency training. Oncology is unique as a… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Wesley Smith started his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2019. Dr. Smith grew up in Southeast Texas and completed medical school in 2016. After leaving Texas to complete his pediatric residency in Memphis, Tennessee, he returned home to continue training in pediatric cancer… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Gengwen Tian started her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2019. Dr. Tian has had a strong passion for treating patients with malignancies since medical school. With the goal of understanding more about cancer biology and discovering new treatment, Dr. Tian pursued her PhD… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Dana Tlais started her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2019. She completed her medical training at the American University of Beirut and her Pediatric residency at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Throughout her medical training, Dr. Tlais provided care for many… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
2020-2023 Fellows
Dr. Chelsea Daignault, 2022-2023 Chief Fellow for Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, began her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. She is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Prior to entering medical school, Dr. Daignault first… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Josaura Fernandez began her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. She is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. Prior to fellowship, she completed her medical school training at Central University of Venezuela and went on to complete her… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Sarah Kappa began her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. She is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Her interest in hematology/oncology started during her year as a research assistant in the pathology lab at Children’s Healthcare of… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Cecile Karsenty began her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. She completed her medical training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and her Pediatric residency at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in New York.
Dr. Karsenty's interest… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Madeleine O'Keefe began her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. Prior to starting her fellowship she completed her pediatrics residency at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.
Her interest in pediatric hematology/oncology became apparent during her residency, when she had… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Luisanna Sánchez Ventura began her pediatric hematology and oncology fellowship training in 2020. She is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics.
She developed a special interest in children with blood disorders while volunteering at a local children's hospital in the… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Meghan Shekar began her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. She is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Prior to fellowship, she worked at Texas Children's Hospital on the inpatient oncology unit as a hospitalist helping to care for a… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Leander Timothy began his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2020. He is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Phone: 832-822-4242
2021-2024 Fellows
Dr. Arianexys Aquino-López started her pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship training in 2021.
Her interests include: solid tumor immunotherapy, investigating approaches to potentiate anti-tumor effects of immune therapies against oncologic malignancies, such as cell and antibody therapies.… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Mohammad Abu-Arja began his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021. Before starting his fellowship training, He completed his medical school training at the University of Jordan. Next, he completed his masters in global health and public policy as a Chevening Scholar at the… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Joshua Dajac began his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021. His interest in hematology and oncology developed during his preclinical years, beginning with laboratory research for targeted drug delivery. His experiences as a combined internal medicine and pediatrics… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Jay Shah began his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021.
During medical school, he found pediatric hematology/oncology resonated most strongly with him.
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Kevin Tien started his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021. Dr. Tien's interest in pediatric medicine began at a very young age and since that time, he continues to further his knowledge of the field to ensure all patients receive advanced care for their challenging… read more
Phone: 832-824-4294
Dr. Russell Wolters began his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021.
Dr. Wolters completed his pediatrics training at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital, one of the nation’s largest and most highly accredited academic children’s hospitals. He also spent an… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Advanced Track Trainees
Dr. Gabriela Llaurador began her pediatric stem cell transplant fellowship training in 2021.
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Madhavi Lakkaraja began her pediatric stem cell transplant/cellular therapy fellowship training in 2021.
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Matthew McEvoy began his pediatric solid tumor fellowship in 2021 and completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2021. As a clinical fellow, he cared for patients in all the Hematology-Oncology and BMT programs.
Dr. McEvoy completed his residency in Pediatrics at… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Program Coordinators
Deanna Cuello, BA
Deanna Cuello received a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Houston. She has worked in the Texas Medical Center for over 20 years in cancer centers.
For questions related to the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program, please contact Carrie Will, Fellowship Coordinator… read more
Phone: 832-822-4311
Carrie Will
Carrie Will has worked at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center as the Fellowship Coordinator and administrative assistant for the Education Division since 2010. Prior to this, she worked as an Executive Assistant at Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in Waco, Texas.
For questions… read more
Phone: 832-822-4207