Meet Your Team
Our caring professionals specialize in blood disorders and cancer (hematology-oncology) and in meeting the unique needs of children. Seattle Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center team is specially trained and highly experienced in treating babies, children, teens and young adults (up to age 30 for some cancers).
Your child’s healthcare team includes experts from many specialties to care for your whole child, not just their disease. Day and night, our inpatient care team includes acute care oncologists who are board-certified in hematology-oncology. Few children’s hospitals offer this level of around-the-clock subspecialty care. We support your child and family through all aspects of this journey – from keeping up with school during treatment to getting follow-up care as your child becomes an adult.
Leadership
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Chief, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy
Specialized Teams Focused on Your Child’s Needs
To give your child the most advanced care, we have dedicated teams for these specific conditions and treatments:
- Acute Care Oncology (Inpatient Care)
- Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program
- Bone Marrow Failure Program
- Bone Tumor and Sarcoma Clinic
- Brain Tumor Program
- Cancer Predisposition Clinic
- Cancer Survivor Program
- Emotional, Psychological and Spiritual Care
- Fertility Preservation Program
- Hematology
- High-Risk Leukemia Program
- I-131 MIBG Therapy
- Infusion Services
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Program
- Neuroblastoma Program
- Non-Malignant Transplant Program
- Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program
- Radiation Therapy Service
- Sickle Cell Program
- Solid Tumor Program
- Surgical Oncology
Acute care oncologists
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Kritika Patel, MD
Acute care advanced practice providers
Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program Providers
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Wade Iwata, MSW, LICSW
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Leah Kroon, MA, MN, RN, CPHON, nurse practice specialist
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Gretchen Ione Fry VonHeeder-Phillips, LICSW
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Fred Wilkinson, LICSW, Leukemia & Lymphoma team
Bone Marrow Failure Providers
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Katie Bergstrom, MS, CGC
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Chelsea Olson, RN coordinator
Weekly Bone Tumor and Sarcoma Clinic providers
Other doctors who regularly care for sarcoma patients
Pediatric neuro-oncologists - oncology
These doctors have specialty training in pediatrics and subspecialty training in cancer and blood disorders. They focus on the care of children with brain tumors, both benign and cancerous. They are leaders in brain tumor research and help set new standards to improve care.
Pediatric neuro-oncologist – neurology
With specialty training in pediatric neurology and subspecialty training in pediatric neuro-oncology, this doctor’s focus is treating children with brain tumors.
Neurosurgeons
Neurosurgeons have specialty training in brain surgery, with further training in pediatric brain surgery. Seattle Children’s is the leading pediatric neurosurgical center in the Pacific Northwest. Each year, our team includes a fellow. This is a licensed doctor who has finished neurosurgery training and is working with us to gain further pediatric specialty experience.
Radiation oncologists
Our radiation oncologists have specialty training in using radiation therapy to treat cancer, tumors and other diseases. Proton beam therapy is an option for some children we treat.
Neurologists
Our neurologists have specialty training to treat children, teens and young adults with diseases of the nervous system such as headaches, seizures, nerve pain and movement disorders.
Brain tumor nurse practitioners
Our nurse practitioners are registered nurses (RNs) with advanced training and education. They work both independently and with doctors to diagnose, treat and teach patients and families about serious and chronic conditions. Nurse practitioners may see your child in the hospital or for clinic visits.
Neurosurgery nurse practitioners
Rehabilitation medicine doctor
Our rehabilitation medicine doctor has specialty training to help your child regain strength and function after their illness and treatment.
Neuropsychologists
These team members assess your child’s learning, memory, mood and how they cope with their illness. Neuropsychologists can help prepare your child to return to school and arrange for help they might need in the classroom.
Endocrinologists
Our endocrinologists are doctors who specialize in how hormones regulate the body, including pituitary gland function.
Nurse coordinators
Our nurse coordinators will be your main source of education about your child’s care. With their expertise in coordination of care, they are the ones to call when you’re not sure who to contact.
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Susan Morgan, RN
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Alli Olsen, RN
Registered dietitians
Our dietitians will check your child’s diet and suggest foods and other nutrition to promote your child’s health and growth.
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Mary E Jones Verbovski, MS, RD, CD
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Garrett Kendall Knecht, RDN, CD
Child life specialists
Our child life specialists work with you, your child and other family members. They help your family relieve tension and express concerns and fears. We want your family to feel more in control of your medical experience.
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Erin Behen, MS, CCLS, Outpatient Clinic and Proton Therapy Center
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Morgan Braun, MS, CCLS
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Alicia Sevilla, BSW, MS, CCLS, Outpatient Clinic
Genetic counselors
These genetic specialists are trained in counseling. They will review your family health history and explain the results of genetic testing.
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Shannon Stasi, MS, LCGC
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Natalie Waligorski, MS, MPH, LCGC
Research coordinators
These team members talk with families about our research program and coordinate research within our brain tumor team.
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Peter Chong, Clinical Research Associate
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Seehee Park, Clinical Research Associate
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Grace Rossi, Clinical Research Associate
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Jeff Stevens, Clinical Research Supervisor
Team coordinators
Team coordinators track and schedule appointments. These may include clinic visits, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) appointments, lab visits, infusions and consultations.
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Lakisha Johnson
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Katie VanBockern
Cancer Survivor Program Providers
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Vicky Aliferakis, RN, nurse coordinator
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Brianna Foley, MSW, LICSW
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Taylor Giovannetti, RN, Nurse Coordinator
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Natalie Waligorski, MS, MPH, LCGC
Cancer Predisposition Clinic Providers
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Riley Coyle, MS, CCLS, Inpatient Solid Tumor team
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Alli Olsen, BSN, RN
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Natalie Waligorski, MS, MPH, LCGC
Fertility Preservation Program Providers
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Leah Kroon, MA, MN, RN, CPHON, nurse practice specialist
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Fred Wilkinson, LICSW, Leukemia & Lymphoma team
Hematologists
Hematology advanced practice providers
High-Risk Leukemia providers
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Shauna Sinclair, RN Coordinator
Oncologists
I-131 MIBG Therapy advanced practice providers
I-131 MIBG Therapy nuclear medicine technologist
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Lisa Aldape, CNMT, Nuclear Medicine PET/CT supervisor
Infusion APPs
The advanced practice providers (APPs) listed here manage infusions for medical conditions other than cancer. Chemotherapy infusions are managed by APPs on the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center team.
Child Life Therapists
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Erin Behen, MS, CCLS, Outpatient Clinic and Proton Therapy Center
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Samantha Collar, MS, CCLS, Infusion Center
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Alicia Sevilla, BSW, MS, CCLS, Outpatient Clinic
Oncologists
Our Neuroblastoma Program is led by doctors with special training in diagnosing, treating and preventing blood diseases and cancers. That branch of medicine is called hematology-oncology.
Neuroblastoma Program nuclear medicine doctors
Our team includes doctors specially trained to use radioactive substances to diagnose, treat and research illness.
Neuroblastoma Program radiation oncologist
Our radiation oncologist is highly trained in using high-energy beams to treat cancer, tumors and other diseases.
Neuroblastoma Program advanced practice providers
Advanced practice providers include advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) and physician assistants (PAs). They work closely with doctors and can provide care independently. These providers diagnose and treat patients and can prescribe medicines. All during your child's treatment, they can answer questions, share advice and teach patients and families.
Neuroblastoma Program nuclear medicine technologists
Our nuclear medicine technologists prepare radioactive material. It is used to make images of the inside of your child’s body. The images help doctors diagnose disease and track treatment.
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Lisa Aldape, CNMT, Nuclear Medicine PET/CT supervisor
Immunology
Metabolic disorders
Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program doctors
Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program advanced practice providers
Nurse coordinators
Our nurse coordinators will be your main source of education about your child’s care. If you are not sure who to call, contact your nurse coordinator.
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Jalyn Britton, RN
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Ashley Condron, RN
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Rhonda Hitchcock, RN (Inpatient Transition Nurse)
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Cara Lillybridge, RN
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Kim Lowole, RN
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Sophie McCarthy, RN
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Rachael Nilson, RN
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Aubrey Wong, RN
Pharmacists
Our pharmacists can answer questions about your child’s medicines and discuss side effects. They help your child learn to take medicines correctly.
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Alina Herman
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Daniel van Meter
Child life specialists
Our child life specialists work with you, your child and other family members. They help your family relieve tension and express concerns and fears. We want your family to feel more in control of your medical experience.
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Yifan Wang, MS, CCLS
Social workers
Our skilled social workers give your family emotional support from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. They coordinate care between your family, community and medical team. They help your family get the resources you need.
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Wendy Datlow, LICSW
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Meghan Robbins , LSWAIC
Registered dietitians
Our dietitians will check your child’s diet and suggest foods and other nutrition to promote your child’s health and growth.
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Jordan Griffin
Radiation Therapy Service
Radiation Therapy Service options at Seattle Children’s include I-131-MIGB and a precise type of radiation called proton therapy.
Sickle Cell Program providers
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Hoyan Wong, RN, BSN
Solid Tumors Pediatric Oncologists
Solid Tumors Nurse Practitioners
Solid Tumor Child Life Specialists
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Riley Coyle, MS, CCLS, Inpatient Solid Tumor team
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Alicia Sevilla, BSW, MS, CCLS, Outpatient Clinic
Surgical Oncology providers
Contact Us
If you would like an appointment, ask your child’s primary care provider to refer you to our Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.
If you have a referral or would like a second opinion, contact the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at 206-987-2106 or by email. A second opinion is a chance to confirm the features of your child's disease and get advice on the best treatment options.
Providers, see how to refer a patient.
Schedule an appointment
- How to schedule an appointment at Seattle Children’s.
- If you already have an appointment, learn more about how to prepare.
- Learn about resources such as useful websites, videos and recommended reading for you and your family.
Telemedicine at Seattle Children’s
You may be offered a telehealth (virtual) appointment. Learn more.
Paying for Care
Learn about paying for care at Seattle Children’s, including insurance coverage, billing and financial assistance.
Social workers
Our skilled social workers give your family emotional support from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. They coordinate care between your family, community and medical team. They help your family get the resources you need.
Elizabeth Estes, MSW, LSWAIC
Wade Iwata, MSW, LICSW
Sophie Keef-Bullock, MSW, LICSW
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