Social media outlets like Instagram are often seen as frivolous, just endless selfies or pictures of glamorous meals and travel. But in the world of childhood cancer and blood disorders, these channels can be a lifeline. When a child is treated for a serious illness, an extended network of patients, families and medical professionals is created. Social
The Parents’ Room: Billy’s Birthday
Editor’s Note: A few weeks ago, our founder, Dr. Michael Weiner, received a birthday party invitation that had him near tears. It was from the family of a patient named Billy Cameron, whom he had treated over 35 years ago. “Billy was a great kid with a smile and wonderful attitude,” Dr. Weiner told us, “I’m
A Fellows Graduation Photo Album
Becoming a doctor is a long process – and becoming a specialist takes even longer. After medical school comes internship, residency and then fellowship. As an academic medical center, training the next generation of physicians is an important part of Columbia University Medical Center’s mission. Fellowship to become a pediatric oncologist or hematologist takes three
The Extra Mile
The extra mile is the road always taken by our doctors, nurses, and staff. There is very little they won’t do to make our patients’ lives easier. Take Dr. Jennifer Levine, one of our oncologists and the Director of the Center for Survivor Wellness. In talking to one of her patient families, she learned that their son
Our Wise And Wonderful Nurses
It’s National Nursing Week so we’d like to take a moment to recognize the extraordinary professionals who take care of children with cancer and blood disorders at Columbia University Medical Center. If you’ve ever met any of our nurses, you probably already know about their endless dedication and compassion, and their tireless work on behalf
Why We Walk: Team Uma Buma!
Sometime last year, amazing baked goods began appearing in the outpatient clinic. Gourmet doughnuts, cookies from Levain – the most delicious stuff imaginable – and it was there for patients, families and staff to enjoy. We asked around to find out who was making this happen. Was it the bakeries themselves? Was it a local
What Motivates Me?
When thinking about the question “What motivates me?” for the Hope & Heroes Walk the obvious answer would be my job. As Events & Outreach Manager at Hope & Heroes, I’m the person behind all of our major events and most of our community events. But, to me, the Walk is so much more than
A Top Team For Research
There’s no question that being a Top Team in the Hope & Heroes Walk requires motivation. Raising $15,000 or more from family, friends and colleagues can be a lot of work. Dr. Julia Glade Bender, in addition to leading our Developmental Therapeutics Program, is captain of Team DVL, a perennial Top Team. Here’s why she walks,
History, Still Being Written
We recently met the family of a newly diagnosed Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient. They told us that when researching where to go for treatment, “all roads” led to Dr. Kara Kelly, the Associate Director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation. This didn’t surprise us as we have heard from many patient
The Future of Cancer Research
Just steps away from our office, some of the great scientific minds of our time are working diligently to investigate cancer in all of its forms. Yesterday morning, several of the those scientists gathered in the Rotunda of the Low Library on Columbia University’s Morningside campus to take part in a panel discussion on