The Leukemia and Lymphoma Program at the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders is dedicated to the comprehensive care of children, adolescents and young adults with newly diagnosed and relapsed leukemias and lymphomas. Although childhood cancers are rare, leukemia and lymphomas account for 40 percent of all pediatric cancers.
Our care approach involves a multidisciplinary team of pediatric oncologists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, nurse care managers, social workers and psychologists. We not only provide treatments for our patients, but supportive care for the entire family.
As part of the National Cancer Institute-designated UC San Diego Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, our Leukemia and Lymphoma program is committed to providing state-of-the-art care through the latest and most advanced clinical trials. Our pediatric oncologists who are faculty at UC San Diego School of Medicine are also involved in research projects aiming to understand the development of leukemia, discovery of novel therapies for leukemia and lymphoma, and the impact of pediatric leukemia/lymphoma on social determinants of health.
Conditions Treated
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia
- Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Other rare leukemias and lymphomas
Our Team
Physicians
Paula Aristizabal, M.D., M.A.S., Medical Director, International Outreach Program, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; Site Director for Pediatric Residency Education in Mexico, Department of Pediatrics, UC San Diego/Rady Children’s; Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UC San Diego
Kelly Bush, M.D., Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist
Hilda Ding, M.D., M.S., Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UC San Diego
Anusha Preethi Ganesan, M.D., Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Nicholas Gloude, M.D., Director, Bone Marrow Failure Program; Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UC San Diego
Dennis Kuo, M.D., M.S., Medical Director, Long-Term Follow-up Program; Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UC San Diego
Deborah E. Schiff, M.D., Medical Director, Palliative Care Program, Peckham Center; Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UC San Diego
Victor Wong, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor, UC San Diego
Nurse Practitioners
Kate Keese, R.N., M.S.N., CPNP
Christina Killian-Benigno, BSN, RN, CFNP
Jeanie Spies, R.N., M.S.N., CPNP
Lanipua Yeh-Nayre, BSN, RN, CPNP
Nurse Case Manager
Susan Simpson, B.S.N., R.N., CPHON
Clinical Trials
We are a member of research consortia that include the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) and St. Jude’s Research Hospital. As a collaborating site, we are able to offer innovative clinical trials to pediatric oncology patients. Eligible patients have the option to enroll in early-phase clinical trials and larger phase III trials that incorporate new modalities, including immunotherapy in the treatment of pediatric leukemias and lymphomas.
Other Research
As the pediatric oncology branch of the NCI-designated UC San Diego Mores Comprehensive Cancer Center, we are part of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, where our pediatric oncologists are part of the panel of experts who create and review NCCN disease-specific guidelines. In addition, faculty members are actively involved in committees within COG and St. Jude’s.
Several of our team members are actively involved in clinical research looking at healthcare disparities. They are also collaborating on translational projects with basic scientists at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla Institute of Immunology, Scripps Research, and Salk Research Institute.