HMH Childrens Health Expands Pediatric HematologyOncology Program to Include new Thrombosis Program
What you need to know
- Hackensack Meridian Children's Health has expanded their Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program and will now include a Thombosis Program
- Research into the prevalence of blood clots in pediatric patients who have had COVID-19 is among the work being undertaken by the new comprehensive Thrombosis Program
- Katherine Armstrong, M.D., M.S., has been appointed as the head of the new Thrombosis Program.
Studies show that the incidence of pediatric thrombosis in children has increased, which is believed to be in part because the medical care of critically ill children has improved over the years. Children who are dealing with chronic medical conditions, or being treated for cancer, for example, are at risk for deep vein thromboses (DVT) due to peripherally inserted central catheters and tunnel lines used for treatment. Children who have suffered from COVID infection or the associated MIS-C – Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome – have been shown to also be at risk for blood clots.
Conditions Treated by the Thrombosis Program and Hematology-Oncology Division
The Thrombosis Program is part of the services offered by the Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program. Inpatient and outpatient services are provided for conditions which include:
- Anemia
- Hemostasis (including von Willebrand disease, hemophilia, and coagulopathies)
- Hemoglobinopathies
- Hemophilia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Neutropenia
- Platelet disorders
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Thrombosis
Dr. Armstrong sees patients at the Children’s Cancer Institute at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center and at the new Children’s Cancer Institute Hematology-Oncology Program at Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center in Edison.
About Dr. Armstrong
A graduate of Albany Medical Center, Dr. Armstrong completed her residency in Pediatrics at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornel Medicine. She completed a fellowship in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine.
She is a member of the following organizations: American Academy of Pediatrics; American Society of Hematology; American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; American Society of Clinical Oncology; the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society; the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis and the Foundation for Women and Girls with Blood Disorders. Dr. Armstrong is also on the Pediatric Thrombosis Subcommittee of the Venous Thromboembolism Network.
With Dr. Armstrong at the helm, we will increase our participation in clinical trials and develop new protocols for the treatment of conditions.
Alfred Gillio, M.D., director, Children’s Cancer Institute, Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health and Section Chief, Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program.
Appointments
Patients interested in making appointment may call 551-996-5437, or visit www.hackensackmerdianhealth.org/kids.