Inside Pediatrics Spring 2015

On Service Heads New Institute for Cance

Dr. Smita Bhatia brings her knowledge and expertise to Children’s to provide increased and ongoing attention to the medical and social needs of pediatric cancer survivors.

When Mitchell Cohen, M.D., began his tenure as chair of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief at Children’s of Alabama last September, both institutions were expecting great things of him with regard to recruiting, expanding the department’s academic mission and supporting the development of new research and service programs. He did not disappoint. Before the month was out came word of a recruitment coup: distinguished pediatric oncologist Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, announced that she would be leaving City of Hope in Duarte, California, to lead a new Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship at UAB and Children’s, beginning in January of 2015. pediatrics, vice chair for outcomes in the department of pediatrics and associate director for cancer outcomes research at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. She would be a member of the Children’s medical staff and would co-direct the Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education. “Both my husband [Ravi Bhatia, M.D., also a cancer researcher of international renown] and I were offered incredible opportunities to lead programs at UAB, and I was given an exciting opportunity to set up a new institute,” she said. “We found the leadership here to be dynamic, intellectually stimulating and nurturing of individuals who want to invest in an academic career. The idea of growing In addition, she would serve as a professor in the UAB department of and developing strong academic programs is energizing to us.” Bhatia’s research focuses on understanding the burden of illnesses faced by cancer survivors of all ages, from neonatal to geriatric, identifying cancer survivors at the highest risk of treatment-related complications

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