Since 1992, our Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program, has performed more than 1,500 stem cell transplants, making it one of the nation's largest pediatric programs of its kind. It is a part of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, which is ranked 17th in the nation by U.S.News & World Report for pediatric oncology; the program is also a part of the Siragusa Transplantation Center. As the first freestanding pediatric program to earn accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy, the program is recognized for its quality, outcomes, multidisciplinary approach to care, research and laboratory expertise. We offer several comprehensive, multidisciplinary specialty clinics, including chronic graft vs. host disease, immune deficiency, long term follow-up and bone marrow failure.
Why Choose Lurie Children's?
- Our program was the first free-standing pediatric institution to be accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT). We have continued to maintain this accreditation in the areas of pediatric autologous transplant, allogeneic transplant, marrow collection and peripheral blood by apheresis collection since 1999.
- Our Ambulatory Infusion Center provides comprehensive outpatient treatment, including family-friendly hours, to hematology, oncology and stem cell transplant patients.
- We offer our patients access to in-house protocols and national studies.
- Hospital-wide collaboration means that newborns identified with immune deficiencies in the Newborn Screening Center are quickly referred to and treated by immunologists and stem cell transplant specialists.
- We are a member of the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium (PIDTC), a group of 13 major centers in North America collaborating to improve the outcome of patients with rare, life threatening, inherited disorders of the immune system.
Approach
During a pediatric stem cell transplant, a patient's diseased or damaged bone marrow is replaced with healthy blood stem cells. Patients first receive chemotherapy and/or radiation to eliminate diseased cells and make space in the bone marrow. The stem cells are then infused and make their way to the space in the bone marrow, and start producing healthy blood cells.
All children referred for a stem cell transplant at Lurie Children's have a multidisciplinary team to support them before and after transplant. Patients and their families benefit from this tight team approach, which combines highly-specialized training and clinical expertise of all stem cell transplant specialists. The goal of this team approach is to provide consistent, expert care from the point of referral to the completion of the transplant.
Conditions We Treat
Our specialists treat various conditions with stem cell transplants.
- Cancer
- Central Nervous System Tumors
- Chronic Granulomatous Disease
- Fanconi Anemia
- Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Mucopolysaccharidoses
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome
- Neuroblastoma
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Severe Aplastic Anemia
- Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (SDS)
- Wilms Tumor
- Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS)
- X-linked Lymphoproliferative Disease (XLP)
- X-linked Severe Combined Immunodeficiency 1 (SCID-X1)
Our Programs
The Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program has developed specialized programs to treat certain conditions in the most comprehensive way possible. Browse our list of programs to learn more about the expert-led initiatives that can help treat your child.
Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Specialists
Our Stem Cell Transplant team includes:
- Specialized physicians with extensive training and experience in stem cell transplantation
- Advanced practice nurses (APNs) who work with physicians as part of the dedicated primary team, caring for the child throughout the transplant process.
- Nurses that are trained to care for pediatric patients undergoing transplant.
- All nurses who administer chemotherapy have completed the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Provider Program
- A social worker and a psychosocial expert work as a team with child life specialists to support the emotional, social, educational and developmental needs of the patient and family
- A financial coordinator helps patient families navigate financial and insurance issues.
- A specialized pharmacist is dedicated to managing medications for transplant patients.
The status of patients preparing for a stem cell transplant is reviewed in dedicated meetings. Team members discuss diagnosis, transplant and donor options and treatment regimens. They also review any insurance, financial, family or cultural concerns.
Physicians
Sonali Chaudhury, MD
Director, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
Hannah Lust, MD
Attending Physician, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Kevin O. McNerney, MD
Attending Physician, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Veronika Polishchuk, MD
Attending Physician, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Jennifer Schneiderman, MD, MS
Attending Physician, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Advanced Practice Providers
Karina Danner-Koptik, MSN, APRN-CNS, CPON
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Sarah V. Macabuhay, APRN-NP, MSN
Family Nurse Practitioner, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Kimberly Powers, APRN-NP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Mary Stoelinga, APRN-NP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Inpatient Advanced Practice Providers
Katelyn Baumann, APRN, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Grace E. Coakley, PA-C
Physician Assistant, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Cassandra Hardin, APRN, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Haley M. Hughes, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Molly Kusma, APRN, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Rebekah Maloney, APRN, PCNS-BC
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant
Stephanie O'Brien, APRN-NP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Anna M. Pokriefka, APRN-NP, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Kelsey Vander Wiere, APRN, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Amanda Williams, PA-C
Physician Assistant, Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation
Transplant Support Staff
Nicole Arwood, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist
Ellen Byrnes, RN
Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Quality and Program Manager
Kathleen O'Connell, RN
Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Nurse Coordinator
Eileen Smyth
Donor Coordinator
Transplant Financial Associates
Research Staff
Eric Brown
Clinical Research Coordinator
Monica Haddad
Clinical Research Coordinator
Marianne Moreno
Clinical Research Coordinator
Claudia Pagan
Data Manager
Make an Appointment
Call to make an appointment with our Stem Cell Transplant specialists.
Transplant Remote Consultations & Second Opinions
Whether you anticipate your child needing an organ transplant in the future, interested in multiple listing for organ transplant, or would like a second opinion on post-transplant care, the transplant remote consultation and second opinion program can help.
Via telemedicine, our transplant providers are available for an initial consultation to review your care, explain our transplant process, and provide second opinions of post transplant care treatment plans before deciding if traveling to Lurie Children’s would be the right choice for you.
Our Location
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
225 E. Chicago Ave.Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.227.4000
Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Research
Our team is committed to clinical and transitional research with the goal of advancing the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation through collaborative multidisciplinary research.
Stem Cell Transplant Resources
At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to making sure our patients and their families receive mental, emotional and spiritual support. Stem cell transplant patients and their families have access to support services and internal resources:
- The Family Services team addresses the needs of the whole family for the best possible patient experience. Team members include child life specialists, social workers, art therapists, and chaplains.
- The Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant has a staff neuropsychologist to support mental health.
- We offer survivor services with the Survivors Taking Action and Responsibility (STAR) Program. The program provides risk-based care using national and international survivorship guidelines for childhood cancer and stem cell transplant survivors.
- The Palliative Care Program assists families and their children with pain and symptom management, care coordination, and help in making decisions about treatment options.
Bone Marrow Donation
You can help a young patient by donating blood or bone marrow.
Stem Cell Transplantation News & Stories
Ella’s Story: Saved by Bone Marrow Transplant from a Generous Stranger
Ella experienced repeat ear infections and seemed lethargic to her parents. When she began looking pale, her mom took her to their pediatrician.
Aplastic Anemia Survivor Luna, 18, Reflects on Her Health Journey
Almost a year since her diagnosis with aplastic anemia, Luna reflects on the experience, and what it was like to be a teenager enduring a profound journey with her health.
With a bone marrow donation from her little sister, Cali is cured of sickle cell disease
When Kendra and Lord welcomed their first child, their elation quickly gave way to concern when it was revealed their daughter had sickle cell disease.
Nico’s Story: Early Detection of Deadly Disease Gives Him ‘A Fighting Chance’
A routine newborn screening test mandated by the Illinois Department of Public Health revealed devastating information: Nico had Krabbe disease.
CAR-T Therapy Offers Individualized Cancer Treatment Using a Patient’s Own Immune System
Individualized CAR-T therapy uses a patient’s own immune system to fight certain types of cancers.
Clinical Trials at Lurie Children’s Benefit from Advances in Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is a way to correct harmful genetic changes. Its purpose is to give cells the right DNA instructions needed to make products that work as they should.
Philanthropy
Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children's relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.