In April 2007, Jam’s parents’ greatest fear was realized. Their daughter was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Read more.

Ranked 14th in the nation for pediatric oncology, the family-centered, multidisciplinary program provided by the staff working in cancer (oncology) and blood disorders (hematology) is just one reason families come to us for care. Families come to the Children's Memorial Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders because no other provider in the area can offer the breadth and depth of services or the level of expertise among its specialists and sub-specialists. The division is lead by Morris Kletzel, MD; the following are a few center highlights:

• It is the region’s largest center dedicated to diagnosing and curing childhood and adolescent cancers as a Children’s Oncology Group Phase I research center.
• It provides one of the nation’s largest pediatric stem cell transplantation programs, complete with long-term care for chronic graft-versus-host disease (when the immune cells of a transplant from a donor attack the tissues of the person receiving the transplant).
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has named it one of a handful of nationally designated Thalassemia Care Centers. More about thalassemia »
• The center’s staff follows more than 300 childhood cancer survivors through our Survivors Taking Action & Responsibility (STAR) program.
• It is the only Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium Center in the midwest, providing cutting-edge care for rare pediatric brain tumors.

The program, affiliated with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, is also dedicated to training the next-generation of the best clinicians in hematology, oncology and stem cell transplant, by providing fellowship opportunities to young physicians seeking advanced training in this highly specialized area.

At any given time, a patient at Children's Memorial may be treated by a team of clinicians, surgeons, scientists, dietitians, nurses, advanced practice nurses, and child life and family support staff — all of whom are solely dedicated and uniquely trained to serve children and their families affected by tumors and blood diseases.  

We see an average of 200 new oncology patients a year (approximately one third of these new diagnoses are malignant brain tumors) and approximately 360 long-term survivors of pediatric leukemia and solid tumors are under active care by members of the program.

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