I am a hematologist specializing in stem cell transplants for patients battling lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). I am an associate professor of hematology and the medical director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at The Ohio State University. I’m very focused on survivorship and the challenges that patients face once they receive their life-saving therapies, as well as improving those therapies to try to reduce long-term complications of transplant.

As a member of the Leukemia Research Program at the OSUCCC – James, my research is dedicated to cellular therapies for hematologic malignancies, including engineered cell therapies for B-cell malignancies as well as the treatment and prevention of complications of blood and marrow transplantation.

My recent research includes a phase II study of ibrutinib for the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), which led to the FDA approval of ibrutinib for that indication and a phase II study of CTL-019, a CD19-specific CAR-T therapy for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Additionally, I have co-authored more than 60 articles in well-respected publications, including Clinical Cancer Research, Blood, Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, and New England Journal of Medicine.

I’m proud of my long connection to Ohio State. I started my career here as an undergraduate Zoology major and received my medical degree and master’s degree in Public Health. Throughout my career, I have received honors and awards from Ohio State, the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

At The James, I’m inspired by how focused everyone is on the patient and the patient’s experience — from the CEO to the custodial staff. It’s amazing to work every day in a place that’s leading our generation’s fight against cancer but without ever losing sight of the real people who are at the center of it.