Our Pediatric Cancer and Blood Specialists

At the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital Colorado, your child has access to pediatric specialists who are experienced in the latest evaluation and treatment methods for cancer and blood diseases. Our specialists recognize that you play an important role on your child’s care team, and we work to provide you as much information and support as possible. We want to make sure you understand your child’s diagnosis, so that together, we can move forward with the best treatment options.

One dedicated team of specialists for all of your child’s needs

Our care teams include specialists such as pediatric oncologists, pediatric hematologists, pediatric bone marrow transplanters, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, psychologists, child life specialists, social workers and family navigators. Each one of our teams focuses on different types of cancer and blood diseases so we can provide highly specialized care for your child.

We assign a primary team to your child, and that team remains the same throughout the treatment process. This approach helps ensure that you receive important information in a timely manner and that your child receives consistent, quality care. In addition to your child’s primary team, you will have access to more than 100 specialty providers in our group, as well as hundreds more throughout Children’s Colorado and the Anschutz Medical Campus.

All of our pediatric cancer specialists are members of the Children’s Oncology Group and other national and international pediatric professional societies for blood diseases and for bone marrow transplant, providing our patients with access to leaders in the development of innovative treatments regardless of the disease needing treatment. Additionally, many members of our team complete special training and focus primarily on bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy. When needed, we have some of the world’s leading experts in this new form of treatment.

Pediatric oncologists

Our pediatric oncologists are board certified and experienced when it comes to diagnosing and treating childhood cancers. And for families with children facing cancer, experience matters. We are familiar with the many ways that cancer can begin, and we understand that it acts differently in children than in adults. Because of this, we’re able to create treatment plans that include the safest and most effective ways to treat cancer in children.

When your child arrives at Children’s Colorado for cancer evaluation, we’ll introduce you to the oncologist who will lead the evaluation process, diagnose your child and help establish a treatment plan. Depending on the diagnosis, that oncologist may need to consult with other specialists in the Center or in other specialty areas of medicine.

Pediatric neuro-oncologists

Our neuro-oncologists treat cancers of the brain and spinal cord. If your child has a brain tumor, a neuro-oncologist will meet with your family to discuss chemotherapy and radiation treatment options. They will also help assess your child’s condition before and after surgery. They work closely with neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, neuropsychologists and other specialists to establish plans for therapy and will continue to follow your child throughout their treatment.

Pediatric hematologists

A hematologist specializes in researching, diagnosing, treating and preventing blood diseases, as well as disorders of the lymph nodes and blood vessels. Your child may need to see one of our board-certified hematologists if they have a condition involving their red or white blood cells, platelets, blood vessels, bone marrow, lymph nodes or spleen. This can include conditions like hemophilia, blood clot disorders, sickle cell disease and different types of anemia. When your child arrives at Children’s Colorado for evaluation and treatment of a blood disorder, you will meet the primary hematologist who will lead your child’s team. The hematologist will work closely with neurologists, neuropsychologists, GI and lung specialists, physical therapists and other specialists to establish the best plans for treating your child and will follow your child throughout treatment.

Pediatric immunologists

Our pediatric immunologists study the role the immune system can play in treating cancer and blood diseases with treatments that use certain parts of the immune system to fight disease. They also treat patients whose immune systems do not develop properly or are at risk for developing cancer because of a primary immune disorder. Some children are born with these disorders and some develop them over time. Like our other providers, they work with a wide range of specialists in the Center and other areas in the hospital. This ensures that all the right providers are caring for your child and creating the best treatment plans throughout their care.

Pediatric hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant nurses

Each program within our Center includes nurses who specialize in hematology, oncology or bone marrow transplantation. We will assign one of them as your primary nurse to help you and your child through each phase of treatment.

What makes our nurses different?

Nurses at the Center complete extensive education. In fact, nearly 100% carry a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or higher. Many have additional training, such as therapeutic touch or fluency in a foreign language, and all of our nurses attend conferences to stay up to date on the latest treatment and research information.

Our nurses are certified pediatric chemotherapy and biotherapy providers, and they are members of the Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Nurses. Additionally, our nursing team trains more pediatric oncology nurses in chemotherapy administration than any other group or school in the Mountain West region.

Pediatric infusion and chemotherapy specialists

Your child may also see an infusion nurse who gives chemotherapy, immunotherapy, blood products and other medications as ordered by your child’s doctors. These nurses, who are certified in specialized chemotherapy and other treatment administration, work with the pharmacists, doctors and nurse practitioners or physician assistants to administer your child’s treatment. The comfort and safety of your child throughout treatment is a top priority.

Other pediatric cancer and hematology specialists

The following pediatric specialists are also part of our team at the Center:

Doctors

• General pediatric cancer surgeons
• Pediatric orthopedic surgeons
• Pediatric neurosurgeons
• Pediatric urologic surgeons
• Pediatric ear, nose and throat surgeons
• Radiation oncologists
• Psychologists and neuropsychologists
• Pathologists and neuropathologists
• Survivorship experts
• Fertility specialists

Clinical staff

• Dietitians and nutritionists
• Pharmacists
• Genetic counselors
• Pediatric oncology nurses
• Advanced practice providers including nurse practitioners and physician assistants
• Physical therapists
• Palliative care

Support staff

• Therapeutic recreation/child life specialists
• Art therapist and music therapist
• Learning specialists
• Social worker
• Financial counselors

Learn more about our Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

Contact the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

For appointments at Anschutz Medical Campus, call 720-777-6740.

For appointments at South Campus, call 720-478-0246.

For appointments in Colorado Springs, call 719-305-9025.