Our Team:
Dr. Kusum Viswanathan, MD – Director
Ms. Natalie Sommerville-Brooks, FNP | Angelica Galvez, BSSW – Transition Coordinator | Ms. Angelica Annunziata, MS, CCLS – Child Life Specialist | Samantha Bailey – Patient Service Associate
The Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center is staffed by Board-Certified Pediatric Hematologists. The department diagnoses and treats children and teenagers with blood disorders such as anemias, bleeding disorders, sickle cell disease and cancer. Children and teens with these conditions receive coordinated care from our team of doctors, nurses, social workers and child life specialists. The team also coordinates care with the child’s primary care physician and other specialists. Our dedicated staff provide information, education and counseling. We help parents of affected children to cope with chronic or severe disease, obtaining medical insurance coverage, financial support and transportation assistance. Physicians are available 24 hours a day to answer questions and/or give advice.
Brookdale Hospital’s Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program provides patients with a comprehensive approach to the management and treatment of sickle cell disease.Patients are admitted to the inpatient unit under the supervised care of the hematologists. The hospital provides outpatient services through the sickle cell clinics, health maintenance, and 24 hour/7 days a week access to a Hematologist. The program has newborn screening follow up, genetic counseling, coordinated multi-disciplinary care, pain management, chronic transfusion with erythrocytapheresis therapy, trans-cranial Doppler screening for stroke prevention and clinical research treatments. In addition, there is computer based learning and educational materials provided to all patients. We have support groups for parents/young people and dedicated staff for adolescent transition to the adult service.Professional and community education has been an essential part of the program for several years. The sickle cell program is a recipient of several federal and state grants since 1995 and is well recognized nationally for its community outreach and education strategies.
Locations:
- Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center: (Inpatient & Outpatient services)
- 1 Brookdale Plz, New York, New York 11212, United States. Third floor,
- Tel: 718-240-5904
- Brookdale Family Care Center-Linden:(Outpatient clinics)
- 2554 Linden Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York 11208, United States
- Tel: 718-240-8600