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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 Pediatric Hematology/… 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. 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. 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 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 supportive human presence through the difficulties caused by disease.
Dr.… 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 completed his pediatric solid tumor fellowship in 2022 and 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 Children's… read more
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: 832-824-1170
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 completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2022.
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… read more
Dr. Michelle Choe, Chief Fellow 2021-2022, completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2022. 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
Dr. Shaniqua Anum completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2022. 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… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Kristen Kurtz completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2022. She is board-certified in General Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. She has served children with a combination of developmental and mental health needs for over a decade and is excited to… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Jay Read is an advanced track fellowship trainee in pediatric bone marrow/stem cell transplantation. He completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2022. Dr. Read decided to pursue a career as a Hematologist/Oncologist because of the relationships he developed with… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Wesley Smith completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2022. 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… read more
Dr. Gengwen Tian completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2022. 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 completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2022. She completed her medical training at the American University of Beirut, her Pediatric residency at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and her fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at Baylor College… read more
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. 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. 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
2022-2025 Fellows
Dr. Ajibike Lapite began her pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship training in 2022.
Dr. Lapite committed to a career in hematology/oncology in her adolescence. A number of personal experiences made clear to her that geography dictates patient outcomes and that patient advocacy and clinical… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Bryony Lucas began her pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship training in 2022.
Prior to entering medical school, Dr. Lucas first obtained degrees in Dance and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies at New York University. After dancing professionally at the Metropolitan Opera in New… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Taylor Luckie began her pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship training in 2022.
Dr. Luckie's interest in the field of pediatric hematology/oncology first began when her childhood friend underwent pediatric cancer treatment. Her interest in improving the treatment and care for children with… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Candelaria O'Farrell began her pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship training in 2022.
Board Certifications
American Board of Pediatrics
Phone: 832-822-4242
Dr. Andrew Wahba began his pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship training in 2022. He is a clinical fellow in the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine / Texas Children’s Hospital. After graduating from medical school, Dr. Wahba worked as a research assistant in… read more
Phone: 832-822-4215
Dr. Shuo Xu began her pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship training in 2022.
Board Certifications
American Board of Pediatrics
Phone: 832-822-4242
Advanced Track Trainees
Dr. Jay Read is an advanced track fellowship trainee in pediatric bone marrow/stem cell transplantation. He completed his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training in 2022. Dr. Read decided to pursue a career as a Hematologist/Oncologist because of the relationships he developed with… read more
Phone: 832-822-4242
Program Coordinator
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 Deanna at mdcuello@texaschildrens.… read more
Phone: 832-822-4311