CoagulationDisorders near Paramus, NJ

Biography: Diane George, MD cares for children and adolescents undergoing stem cell transplantation as a treatment for cancer (particularly leukemia and lymphoma), noncancerous blood disorders (like sickle cell anemia), and immunodeficiencies. She specializes in transplantation for patients who don't have a related bone marrow donor, and also takes care of patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation for solid tumors. Dr. George was originally attracted to the field of pediatric oncology because she wanted to take on the challenge of fighting pediatric cancer, and stem cell transplantation offers the ultimate cure in select patients. It is a complex medical field, and Dr. George enjoys being able to take care of children with complex medical conditions. Dr. George also conducts clinical research. She is currently evaluating a procedure called "CD34-selected stem cell transplantation" to remove T-cells from donor bone marrow. This approach reduces the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) - a potential complication of bone marrow transplantation in which T-cells from the donor attack the tissue of the recipient. This approach benefits patients who do not have a well-matched family donor, and it could potentially make bone marrow transplantation an option for more patients. Dr. George is also interested in studying how a patient's immune system rebuilds itself after CD34-selected stem cell transplantation. At NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, every member of a child's healthcare team shares the same compassion and dedication to helping them get well. Dr. George looks forward each day to the camaraderie, intellectual stimulation, and problem-solving she shares with fellow team members. After being in the field for more than 20 years, Dr. George uses the knowledge and experience she has gained to benefit patients and their families.

Biography: Dr. Reshef trained in Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation and received a Master of Science degree in Translational Research from the University of Pennsylvania. He joined Columbia University in 2015 as Director of Translational Research for the Blood and Marrow Transplantation program. He is the Clinical Lead for the CAR-T Cell Program at Columbia, a principal investigator at the Columbia Center for Translational Immunology and a member of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Biography: Dr. Iwamoto is a neuro-oncologist whose previous training includes a neurology residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a neuro-oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. For over three years, Dr. Iwamoto was an attending physician and an investigator at the Neuro-oncology Branch, a trans-institute branch of the National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, in Bethesda, MD. At the intramural NIH, Dr. Iwamoto was a principal investigator in early phase clinical trials for brain tumors and worked with laboratory and computational scientists on several translational projects in brain tumors. Dr. Iwamoto was recruited to Columbia University as the Deputy Director of the Neuro-oncology Division and is actively developing the clinical and translational research components of this program. He is an expert in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of brain and spinal cord tumors as well as neurological complications of cancer.

Biography: James McKiernan, MD, is the John K. Lattimer Professor of Urology, and CEO, of ColumbiaDoctors. He also is the interim dean of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. McKiernan graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BA in biology and received his MD from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his training in urology and general surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, followed by a urologic surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. McKiernan's clinical practice is focused on urologic oncology and particularly on surgical therapy in high-risk patients with bladder and kidney cancers. Dr. McKiernan evaluates and treats over 1,000 patients with bladder cancer every year. His research, funded by NIH and biotechnology industry grants, focuses on developing novel therapeutics for bladder cancer treatment as well as comparative effectiveness research in urologic oncology. In the management of kidney and bladder cancer, he has special expertise in organ preservation and reconstructive surgery to maximize quality of life. Dr. McKiernan's research has been published in Cancer, Cancer Research, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA Oncology, Journal of Urology, Urologic Oncology, and Urology. He has authored and co-authored more than 220 scientific articles and book chapters on urologic cancer and related issues. For the past 10 years, he has directed a research team at Columbia University Medical Center investigating quality outcomes and effectiveness in urologic cancer surgery. He has served as the Vice Chairman for the AJCC TNM Staging Task Force, Co-Chair of the AUA Guidelines Panel on non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, as well as on the American Board of Urology and Society of Urologic Oncology Examination Committees. In addition, Dr. McKiernan is the principal investigator of the NIH-funded clinical trials program of experimental therapeutics in bladder cancer at Columbia University/NYPH, which is investigating new agents for bladder preservation in patients whose cancer has recurred after standard therapy. In collaboration with researchers at Columbia's Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, his team continues to develop new therapeutic strategies for managing bladder cancer.

Care Philosophy: I treat each person as a unique individual. I get to know that person and listen to the medical issue(s) that led him/her to see me. I spend time in conversation and examination to gather the information necessary for a diagnosis and treatment. I discuss the management options so that we can jointly select the appropriate treatment. Every question is welcomed. I enjoy learning about each person and sharing the benefit of my expertise. I hold sacred the trust placed in my care.

Biography: Dr. James Lee is an internationally recognized endocrine surgeon who specializes in the care of patients with thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal disorders. Dr. Lee is the Chief of Endocrine Surgery and the Edwin K. and Anne C. Weisskopf Professor of Surgical Oncology at Columbia University and the Physician Director of the Endocrine Service Line at the NY Presbyterian Hospital. He serves as Co-Director of the multidisciplinary Columbia Thyroid Center, Parathyroid Center, and Adrenal Center. He has been rated as one of the Best Doctors in America and is one of the highest volume endocrine surgeons in the country. Dr. Lee received his medical degree from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, completed his residency in General Surgery at Columbia and went on to a fellowship in Endocrine Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Lee is actively involved in the leadership of Endocrine Surgery at the national and international level. He serves on the Executive Council of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and Standing Faculty of the international Endocrine Surgery University. He co-created the inaugural Postgraduate Course in Endocrine Surgery at the American College of Surgeons and is a featured lecturer in the biannual Masters of Endocrine Surgery Course. He has authored over 100 articles and book chapters, including the AAES Parathyroidectomy Guidelines which sets the international standard for the care of patients with parathyroid disease. He is also the Co-Editor of Surgical Endocrinopathies and the Founding Figures which details state of the art care for patients with endocrine disorders as well as the rich history of discovery in the field. Dr. Lee has given over 100 invited lectures and visiting professorships at institutions around the world. He has travelled extensively to teach other endocrine surgeons advanced techniques such as minimally invasive thyroid and parathyroid surgery as well as laparoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy. He has mentored dozens of clinical and research fellows over his career, many of whom are now leaders in their own institutions and abroad. Dr. Lee also serves as the Vice Chair of New Media in the Columbia University Department of Surgery and Chair of the ColumbiaDoctors Communications Committee. In this role, he oversees the digital strategy for multiple groups across the medical center with the mission of providing the highest quality education on health and wellness to the global audience.

Care Philosophy: We are committed to delivering the best care and an exceptional patient experience. We are devoted to providing services that are patient-centered and compassionate, and care for you as a person.

Biography: Dr. Mundi completed his medical degree at SUNY Downstate and finished his internal medicine residency at Boston University Medical Center. He completed training in medical oncology and hematology at Columbia University Medical Center and joined the faculty in 2016. Dr. Mundi's clinical interests include bone and soft tissue sarcomas and other rare cancers, and his research interests are in adapting bioinformatics and systems biology approaches in the laboratory to guide personalized therapeutics in the clinic.

Biography: Rajshekhar Chakraborty, MD is an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in the division of hematology/oncology. After receiving his medical degree from University of Delhi, India, he completed his residency in internal medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai-Queens Hospital Center. Subsequently, he spent three years as a clinical researcher in plasma cell disorders at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, followed by fellowship in hematology/oncology at the Cleveland Clinic. During fellowship, he conducted outcomes research with a focus on quality of life and treatment-related toxicities in plasma cell disorders. After fellowship, he started his job as Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Chakraborty cares primarily for patients with plasma cells disorders, including multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, MGUS, POEMS syndrome, and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. His research interests include clinical trials and outcomes research in plasma cell disorders.

Biography: Dr. Bret Taback is a nationally recognized surgical oncologist in the New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center department of surgery. Dr. Taback is a leader in the clinical management of melanoma, sarcoma and skin/soft tissue tumor surgery. Dr. Taback is the Director of the Melanoma and Sarcoma Program and Director of the Breast Surgery Fellowship. Dr. Taback received his MD degree at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston , and completed his general surgery residency at Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital. During that time he completed a Basic Science Research Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School in Boston. Following this, he completed a fellowship in Complex Surgical Oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California. Dr. Taback is a member of a number of organizations and societies including Society of Surgical Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has published and authored numerous peer review manuscripts, abstracts and presentations, as well as book chapters over the years in notable publications such as Annals of Surgery, Annals of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. He is a clinical investigator with SWOG and Alliance for clinical trials. Dr. Taback has served on numerous hospital committees including tumor boards, Institutional Review Boards, Oncology Operations Council and is the American College of Surgeon's Commission on Cancer Physician Liaison for NYP Hospital. Most recently, Dr. Taback is a noted Castle Connolly Top Doctor.