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Overview

Treatment for pediatric leukemia and lymphoma has changed drastically over the last several decades. Novel therapies and updated protocols have moved into the clinics and increased the survival rates for many of these cancers. I combine my clinical expertise as a pediatric oncologist with methodologies of improvement science to assess the way we are treating patients, identify areas of improvement and determine whether the solutions we put in place are creating effective change. 

Rees Research Summary

Our understanding of many childhood cancers and catastrophic diseases has grown exponentially over the last few decades. While 60 years ago, acute lymphoblastic leukemia was almost always fatal, today we see survival rates above 90% for this common childhood cancer. This is due, in large part, to decades of basic, translational and clinical research which have resulted in the development of innovative treatment options and updated standard of care therapies.

As new treatments and protocols replace or modify existing standard of care therapies, they require increasingly complex systems to deliver that care. I use my expertise as a pediatric oncologist coupled with the principles of improvement science to assess patient care, identify areas for improvement and implement solutions to increase the quality and safety of care we provide.

Improvement science

Improvement science utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to understand and improve systems to deliver care. By integrating approaches from psychology, statistics and engineering, among others, we can analyze systems, identify problems, generate solutions and determine if those solutions are creating effective change. 

For example, we are currently using the principles of improvement science to prevent blood clots in our hospitalized patients. Many patients treated at St. Jude are at increased risk of developing blood clots, particularly while in the hospital, but there are ways we can decrease that risk. Analyzing this problem through the lens of improvement science is allowing us to develop parameters to stratify patients into risk groups, provide interventions and determine if these changes are benefitting our patients. This approach has the potential to improve patient care and decrease morbidity and mortality. 

Benefits for healthcare providers

Improvement science is also important for the healthcare team. Using outdated and inefficient systems impacts our ability to provide the best possible care, which in turn has an impact on wellbeing and morale. Improvement science educates providers to be able to recognize areas of improvement and empowers them to contribute to effective change.  

Selected Publications


About Matthew Rees

Matthew Rees is a pediatric oncologist who received his MD from Baylor College of Medicine. He then completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Michigan, followed by a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dr. Rees is an Assistant Member in the Division of Leukemia and Lymphoma within the Department of Oncology. Dr. Rees combines his clinical expertise with principles of improvement science to drive effective change in relation to how we treat children with leukemia and lymphoma. 

Contact us

Matthew Rees, MD
Department of Oncology
Leukemia/Lymphoma Division
MS 260, Room C6074

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
(901) 595-1686 matthew.rees@stjude.org
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
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