Meet the Fellows

I grew up on a small but beautiful archipelago, the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I moved to another Caribbean Island, Jamaica, to study medicine at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus. I had some innate interest in hematology, but this is where I really grew to love the world and science of hematology/oncology. After completing a one-year internship and six-months as a senior officer in hematology/oncology at UWI, I returned to my home country where I was employed as a medical officer. I often served in remote settings with poor health infrastructure and found myself longing for a better health care system. From this experience, I realized I wanted to position myself as a health care provider contributing to better health outcomes for the community. I began my masters in family medicine at the University of Edinburgh where I completed my thesis on varying barriers to health care and the myriad of disparities present in the system.  I completed residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Holtz Children's Hospital which further cemented my interests in both hematology and advocating for patients.  I knew that a fellowship at St. Jude would help merge my passion for hematology/oncology and my desire to implement improved health systems for patients in underserved communities like my own. My interests in hematology are primarily nonmalignant conditions, but I am intrigued by all oncological conditions. I enjoy walks and hikes with my dog, a good novel and training for half marathons. 

I was born in Guyana and moved to The Bahamas when I was eight years old. After completing my undergraduate studies in Canada, I attended medical school in Jamaica at the University of the West Indies. Following medical school, I worked as a pediatric medical officer at the Princess Margaret Hospital in The Bahamas. There, I had the opportunity to work with the Pediatric Hematology Oncology team, which sparked my interest and passion for the field. I decided to pursue residency training but postponed starting in order to work in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Jamaica during the pandemic. After some time in the PICU, I moved to South Florida to pursue my pediatric residency. My love for Pediatric Hematology Oncology was reaffirmed at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, where I received exceptional mentorship and opportunities to work with amazing people. Inspired by a great mentor and some personal experiences, I developed a special interest in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology in my final year of residency, which I hope to explore further in Fellowship. Outside of work you can find me in the local bookstore hunting down an interesting read or out and about with my husband looking for our next memorable coffee/food experience. 

I grew up in the Silicon Valley of India - Bangalore and in high school I thought I was predestined to become a software engineer since I loved math and enjoyed programming. But I switched gears to pursue a path in medicine as the sheer complexity of the human body baffled me. At Ramaiah medical college I soon discovered that while I got into medicine for the science it is the humanities of the field that made me fall in love with it. After completing medical school, I decided to stay for an extra year in the position of a junior resident at the department of Hematology-oncology. It is here that I came upon the happy realization that my curiosity and compassion culminated in Oncology. During this tenure I contributed in the ongoing efforts to build a cancer registry which helped me recognize that this wealth of data can be utilized to build machine learning models to help improve cancer care. Eager to work at the intersection of medicine and tech, I embarked on a journey to the US and my first stop was at New York City where I completed my pediatric residency training at Mount Sinai and Elmhurst hospital center. Witnessing immense social disparity in the diverse neighborhoods of New York helped me develop cultural humility and emphasized the need for a holistic approach. I hence wish to utilize these experiences to develop personalized cancer care to minimize suffering and maximize outcomes. At St. Jude, I believe that this dream can be nurtured to fruition. Outside of medicine, I love to read, paint and spend time in nature. I am a theater enthusiast and enjoy Indian classical music. 

I grew up in a small town in eastern North Carolina after my parents emigrated from the island of Trinidad and Tobago. As a proud Tarheel at UNC Chapel Hill, I developed an early interest in children’s health through studying Biology and Anthropology. I moved to Charleston, SC to attend medical school at MUSC with my husband, Daniel, who is now a general surgery resident. I returned to my home state of North Carolina to complete my pediatrics residency at UNC. Thanks to incredible mentorship during medical school and residency, I fell in love with caring for families and patients undergoing cancer treatment. I am thrilled at the opportunity to train at St. Jude and engage in clinical research to improve the quality of life of patients and families during therapy. Outside of the hospital, I love spending time with my husband, eating BBQ, sharing meals with friends, and finding new places to run. 

Hey there! Born and raised in a quaint Indian town, I ventured into medicine and found my passion early on in pediatric hematology oncology. After cutting my teeth as a house officer in Mumbai's bustling pediatric hematology oncology center, I hopped across continents to the Big Apple for residency. New York City's vibrant diversity and its significant sickle cell population captured my heart, sparking a newfound fascination with sickle cell anemia. When I'm not knee-deep in medical texts or at the hospital, you'll likely find me belting out tunes or busting a move. I've got a thing for singing and dancing, both of which I've trained in professionally. And to unwind, I find solace in the kitchen, whipping up culinary delights that could rival any five-star restaurant (or so I like to think!). Here's to combining a love for oncology with a zest for life, ready to make a difference one patient and one dance step at a time! 

I was born in a typical Indian middle-class family and lived across the state of Maharashtra in central-western India until settling in the great city of Mumbai. I grew up loving food, motorcycles, and cars. I had an interest in biology and was inclined to pursue a career in medicine at a very young age. I did my medical education from the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences in India where I was exposed to a medically under-served population sparking my interest in public health. During my intern year of medical school, I was granted a scholarship by the European Union to obtain my master’s in public health at Lund University in Sweden. Then, after working as a clinician scientist in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi for nearly two years, I realized my passion for pediatrics. The glaring lack of accessible quality cancer care inspired me to pursue a career in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. I moved to the US with my wife and completed my pediatric residency training at Loma Linda University in California where I was exposed to multi-disciplinary pediatric cancer care with a team-based approach. This experience was instrumental in developing my understanding of comprehensive cancer care. At St. Jude, I plan to gain scientific knowledge and a plethora of clinical experience with a specific research interest in implementation science to create pragmatic solutions for accessible and affordable cancer care. I envision a future with improved and uniform global cancer survival and collaboration.

I grew up in the Kansas countryside (picture cows, horses, and chickens), and then moved to Kansas City for a combined 6-year BA/MD program at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine. While there, I fell in love with coffee and discovering local coffee shops. I moved to Columbia, South Carolina, for a pediatric residency at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital, where I experienced southern hospitality and had some great co-residents and mentors. I am passionate about global health care and the disparities of hematology/oncology care depending on the patient’s location in the world.

My specific clinical interest is the field of solid tumor, and I envision combining these interests of solid tumor and global health by advancing oncologic treatment for patients with solid tumors throughout the world. The excellence of St. Jude both in an academic and clinical realm is what drew me here, as well as the foundation for global health research. I am excited and humbled to spend the next few years training at St. Jude and look forward to refining and distilling my vision as I learn from others. On weekends you can find me hiking with my mini Aussie, Luna, or curled up on the couch with my cat, Merlin.

After growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I ventured out of sunny California to complete my undergraduate degree in anthropology at the University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!) and subsequently my Master of Science in Global Health at Duke University. In graduate school, I worked at the Duke Global Health Institute on substance use and HIV research initiatives in Cape Town, South Africa, where I spent a substantial portion of my Master’s training conducting field research. I obtained my MD from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC before returning to California to complete my pediatrics residency at Stanford. I loved it so much, I stayed an additional year to serve as chief resident and as a clinical instructor in the department of general pediatrics. During my time as chief, we conducted research on medical education and improving funds of pediatric knowledge among our residents. In addition to South Africa, over the course of my training, I have worked in clinical or research capacities in Senegal, Cameroon, Lesotho, and Tanzania. I was drawn to fellowship at St. Jude for their incredible global health infrastructure. I plan to continue exploring and addressing global health disparities in pediatric cancer care in Sub-Saharan Africa with the incredible people in the St. Jude community!

I am from Rehoboth, Massachusetts and spent my childhood/young adult life in the New England area. I went to Smith College where I majored in Neuroscience and found a passion for bench research and continued to grow this love of research as a postbac in the Radiation Oncology Branch at NIH for a year before medical school. In medical school at the University of Massachusetts, I found that pediatric oncology was the perfect combination of the patient population I wanted to work with and the science I was fascinated by. This was confirmed by a research year in the Medical Research Scholars Program at NIH between my third and fourth years of med school where I worked in Dr. Christine Heske’s lab examining NAMPT inhibition in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma. I moved to DC for pediatric residency in the Research Track at Children's National and was fortunate to have the opportunity to continue this research with such an amazing lab and mentor. I am thrilled to be at St. Jude for fellowship and was drawn here because of its incredible mission, vibrant research environment and multitude of clinicians and scientists excited about teaching and being mentors. My clinical and research interests are in sarcomas or neuro-oncology and I envision a career doing primarily basic/translational research. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, baking, reading and visiting museums.

During my childhood, I had the opportunity to live in several different countries. Eventually, I settled in Italy, where I pursued medical studies at the University of Perugia. It was during this time that I developed a deep appreciation for foreign cultures and met my now-husband, who joined me on this crazy journey across the globe. Working in various hospitals across Europe and the Middle East helped me discover my passion for pediatric hematology and oncology. This passion led me to pursue fellowship training in the United States. I completed my Pediatric residency at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, and I am now eagerly anticipating my move to Tennessee to embrace a new lifestyle! During my residency, I developed a keen interest in solid tumors and the regulation of immune responses in sarcoma patients. I am particularly driven to improve the quality of life for sarcoma survivors, especially adolescents and young adults. In the future, I aim to investigate disparities in pediatric cancer survivorship within Eastern Europe. St. Jude offers exceptional resources and a diverse patient population, making it an ideal fit for my career aspirations. In my free time, I enjoy exploring new restaurants, traveling, and spending time with loved ones. 

I grew up and spent most of my childhood in Naples, Florida, where my parents own a pastry shop. Growing up, my twin brother, younger sister and I all helped in the shop on weekends and holidays—it was truly a family business. I left Florida to attend Rhodes College, where I majored in biology with a minor in international relations. I also got my first taste of both Memphis BBQ and St. Jude. I volunteered at St. Jude throughout college and was in awe of the patients and everyone involved in their care; thus, my interest in pediatric hematology/oncology began. I attended medical school at the University of Texas Health at San Antonio where I developed an interest in global health. My westward journey continued when I matched to University of Colorado for residency. In Colorado, I fell in love with the mountains and all the activities I could do in the mountains (hiking, camping, skiing, etc.). Now I am thrilled to be back in Memphis at St. Jude and can’t wait to get involved with Global and explore other clinical and academic interests from the best in the field.

I was born and raised in the Philadelphia area by first generation immigrants from Thailand. During my childhood, my parents owned and operated successful Thai restaurants. Do not assume I know how to cook though since my parents always wanted my sister and I to focus on our studies. Through hard work and the sacrifices of my family, I was fortunate enough to attend Harvard University. In college, I played on the varsity squash team and won three national championships. Go Crimson! After graduating, I worked as a clinical research assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital, where I fell in love with pediatrics. I then moved back to the Philadelphia area, where I attended medical school at Drexel University and then completed pediatric residency at Jefferson/Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. After residency, I worked as a hospitalist in the Oncology division at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. I always knew St. Jude was a special place and since deciding to pursue a career in pediatric hematology/oncology, I hoped to have the chance to train there one day. I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to join the St. Jude family. 

Most of my life was spent in the Tampa area in Florida. I graduated from the University of South Florida then earned my master’s in social work at USC in Los Angeles. After graduation, I obtained a work visa and was a hospital social worker in Reading, England for a year. When I returned to the US, I worked at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. I was asked to be a part of a research study interviewing pediatric cancer patients at All Children's Hospital and fell in love with pediatric hematology/oncology. I wanted to continue a career in research and became a Children's Oncology Group research associate in California. After about 5 years of being a CRA and meeting and marrying my lovely husband, I was inspired to pursue medicine. I returned to undergrad and was accepted into medical school at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, AL. During my second year, I found out I was pregnant with twin boys and life was a whirlwind after that. Luckily, I matched at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for residency, an extremely family-friendly, supportive program. And it's a good thing I did because I ended up having a third little boy intern year. Balancing three young children in residency had its challenges but becoming a pediatric hematologist/oncologist has been my dream since returning to undergrad. I hope to focus my research on leukemia and immunotherapy treatments, while promoting supportive care. I am grateful to be living out my dream here at St. Jude.

I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and completed my undergraduate and medical school education at the University of Michigan. My interest in pediatric oncology began when I volunteered in a pediatric oncology playroom in high school, and I have been dreaming about becoming a pediatric oncologist ever since. I studied English prior to medical school and researched how children with cancer write, draw and speak about their experiences. I headed toward the Mississippi River for my pediatric residency training at the University of Minnesota, and I followed it south to Memphis for a combined fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology and hospice and palliative medicine. My clinical interest in pediatric oncology is in acute myeloid leukemia. I am currently in my one-year clinical palliative care fellowship, learning how to be a palliative oncologist before I embark on my research years. My research interest is in narrative medicine in oncology, specifically in how writing and storytelling can impact patients, families and providers. Alongside medicine, I love reading, writing, dancing, kayaking and travel.

I grew up in and around Montgomery, Alabama. I attended Auburn University where I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences. During my time there, I was fortunate enough to experience wonderful mentorship that allowed me to discover my path would be medical school as opposed to studying veterinary medicine. I first developed an interest working with children volunteering with a therapeutic riding facility of Auburn. Upon graduation, I attended medical school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. By the time I committed to medical school, I had the goal of one-day becoming an oncologist to care for cancer patients. During my fourth year of medical school, I toured St. Jude for the first time as a part of my residency interview process. I knew then that I wanted to learn from the very best at this special institution. I completed my pediatrics residency here in Memphis, TN and am thrilled and thankful for the opportunity to remain and complete my fellowship training. When I’m not taking care of sick kiddos I love spending time with my two sweet pups, Tessa and Cooper, reading, exploring Memphis, playing board games, and staying active. If it’s a Saturday in the Fall, then it’s a given I’m watching Auburn Football! (War Eagle!!)

I grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where I developed a love of filmmaking, music and (thanks to many amazing teachers) DNA. I went on to study molecular biology and global health at Princeton University. While working on my senior thesis, which focused on the epigenetics of pediatric cancer, I discovered a calling for cancer biology and genomics. Meanwhile, my passion for the human component of medicine was fueled by a trip to Laikipia, Kenya, where I produced short films on maternal/child health in rural Maasai communities. I attended medical school at Duke, where I conducted research on decision-making for parents of children with life-threatening conditions. My calling toward pediatric hematology and oncology was confirmed during my residency at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. These experiences have taught me about the complex interplay among biology, environment and culture. As a fellow, I plan to carry out qualitative and mixed methods clinical research on decision-making for children with high-risk malignancies or predisposition syndromes. Compassionate care at all stages of life is so critical, and I am excited to practice and build on these skillsets at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Meanwhile, my husband, Matt, is finishing his PhD in math and our 1-year-old daughter, Carmela, is currently studying the alphabet.

I grew up on a farm in the outskirts of a small town called Hosur in southern India. I moved to Singapore for college where I majored in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Nanyang Technological University. During college, an internship at Harvard Medical School sparked an interest in medicine and led to my medical degree from Duke-NUS medical school in Singapore. Following my graduation, I worked as a medical officer in Singapore for three years and organized multiple medical camps over Southeast Asia for children. I then decided to move to the US and completed by pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. I am very excited to join St. Jude for my fellowship. My clinical interests include stem cell transplants, immunotherapy, and global health. Outside of work, I am passionate about painting, traveling and classical Indian music and dance.

I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, where I attended medical school at the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE). As a medical student my research projects were focused on pain management in the pediatric population and palliative care. I knew from early on that I wanted to become a pediatric hematology oncologist.  After graduating, I worked for one year in the main pediatric oncology unit of Santo Domingo as a general provider. Later, I moved to Miami where I completed my Pediatric residency training at Nicklaus Children's Hospital. As a pediatric resident, I published in diverse topics such as general pediatrics, pediatric palliative care, and global medicine with an article in collaboration with other physicians from Latin America. My future goal is to become a transplanter after graduating from the Hem/Onc fellowship. I'm excited to be part of the St. Jude family, where I know I can foster my diverse interests, both clinically and in research. As an islander, I enjoy dancing. I’ve danced ballet, jazz, and flamenco. But my passion is mainly the Latin rhythms such as merengue, bachata, and Cuban salsa. I also enjoy reading, hiking, and traveling.

After immigrating to Texas from Hong Kong, my parents raised my two older sisters and me in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Following in my sisters’ footsteps, I attended the University of Texas at Austin, where I earned a B.S. in Biochemistry. Before attending medical school at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine near my hometown in Fort Worth, I began my career as an analyst in Health Informatics, providing me invaluable insight into the potential behind big data mining and other intersections of health and technology. My experiences in medical school and residency at Dell Medical in Austin solidified my aspiration to pursue hematology/oncology.  Inspired by exceptional mentors and the grace and resiliency of these patients, the accumulation of their stories and support led me to fellowship at St. Jude. I am deeply honored and ecstatic to pursue my interests in cancer genomics and precision oncology. Though many of my free weekends will be spent visiting my husband, a Sports Medicine fellow in Kentucky, I also enjoy long outdoor walks with a good podcast and discovering new food and drink spots around town. 

Born in the sunny warmth of Miami, FL, my family relocated to the “Windy City” of Chicago during my early years. Growing up with a pediatrician mom, I was always drawn to the field. I pursued my undergraduate studies at Northwestern University, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Science in Human Culture (Go Cats!). It was during my time at Northwestern that I discovered my passion for global health and advancing health equity in children, fueled by my involvement in mobile clinics and medical missions across West Africa and Latin America. My journey then led me to Cleveland, OH, where I participated in an urban health program, working within Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). This experience inspired me to establish my own non-profit organization, dedicated to providing warm clothing to children worldwide. Following this, I embarked on my medical education at Northeast Ohio Medical University. There, I continued to pursue my passions, engaging in volunteer work at a free clinic and conducting clinical research focused on childhood health. Following medical school, I completed my pediatrics residency at the Cleveland Clinic. During residency, I fell in love with pediatric hematology/oncology, forming deep connections with my patients and became fervently committed to addressing health inequities within this specialty. I am thrilled for the opportunity to train at St. Jude, where I aspire to conduct research that merges my interests in bone marrow transplantation, immunotherapies, and survivorship, all while tackling global health disparities in pediatric cancer care. Outside of my professional endeavors, I enjoy traveling, exploring new restaurants with my husband Zaeem, indulging in interior design and event planning, and spending quality time with my regal cat, Teddy.