The dedicated pediatric hematologists and oncologists of the Yale Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Program provide comprehensive and compassionate care for children with all forms of cancer and blood diseases, including leukemia, malignant tumors and lymphomas, as well as sickle cell disease, hemophilia, coagulation abnormalities, and platelet disorders. Our program utilizes a team approach to care, and is active in research that seeks to advance the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancer and blood diseases. Cure rates continue to rise for children with cancer. At Yale, we are determined that more and more children will survive, and that they will thrive. We work to design treatments that cause less discomfort to patients in the short term and fewer serious complications in the long term. Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital’s care team works with patients and their families to design individual treatment plans. In addition to an oncologist, our multidisciplinary team includes advanced practice providers, registered nurses, social workers, a psychologist, psychiatrist, neuropsychologist, nutritionist, and child life specialists, all who have expertise in the medical, social, emotional and educational needs of children and teens. Understanding that children with cancer and blood disorders need more than medical care, we work with patients and their families to help them meet their social, emotional, educational, and behavioral needs. Our support services include: Routine psychosocial evaluations for newly diagnosed patients and their families. Home visits for the most gravely ill or psychiatrically symptomatic children and their families. A school integration program that includes counseling for families and children about their rights to have special services. We work with school districts to make appropriate accommodations for students returning to school, including providing special education services, if necessary. Psychoeducation and neuropsychological testing for patients at risk for neurocognitive problems. Support groups for siblings and parents. End-of-life support team for children and families. HEROS Survivorship Program The HEROS (Health, Education, Research & Outcomes for Survivors of Childhood Cancer) Survivorship Program at Smilow promotes the lifelong health of pediatric cancer patients after their cancer treatment has ended.It was the first childhood cancer survivorship program in Connecticut to offer comprehensive care for adults and children who had survived pediatric cancer. In our specialty clinic, patients receive detailed cancer treatment summaries and an individualized schedule for future screening for chronic conditions related to their original cancer treatment. Our multidisciplinary team that includes a pediatric oncologist, nurse practitioner, psychologist, registered dietician, and nurse educator are committed to caring for each patient as a whole person and empowering survivors

At Laboratory Medicine, we study the molecular and cellular components of blood and other body fluids. This work is crucial to diagnosing and managing illness and understanding the mechanisms and origins of disease.Our physicians, known as clinical pathologists, provide consultations to other doctors regarding optimal laboratory diagnostic approaches and the interpretation of complex laboratory tests. Our team includes pathologists, scientists, phlebotomists, medical technicians, technologists, and others who perform important support functions for our state-of-the-art laboratory. We are available every day, 24 hours a day, for physicians. We perform approximately 10 million tests each year, and also provide specialized high-tech testing to other hospitals in the Yale New Haven Health System and institutions throughout New England, and as far away as Puerto Rico. We also operate multiple satellite facilities and patient service centers located throughout the state. We ensure that every test we offer—at every location—is accurate and reliable. When physicians request to have patients’ blood drawn, here is what happens: Collection: A doctor, nurse, technician, or phlebotomist will draw the patient’s blood. Several tubes may be needed for different types of tests. Depending on what illness the patient might have, his or her doctor may want to obtain a urine sample, throat swab, or other sample. After the sample is collected, the container is labeled with the patient’s name and other information. The sample is received and processed by the Laboratory, and testing begins: Chemistry Testing Blood and other bodily fluids are tested for chemicals, drugs, and substances that indicate disease. We check cholesterol and other tests for risk of heart disease, glucose to monitor diabetes, or thyroxin to monitor the thyroid gland. Hematology Testing We analyze the amount and function of blood cells and plasma. Examples include the Complete Blood Count (CBC) that tells the doctor how many cells of each type are in the patient’s blood, and the prothrombin time (PT) to measure the time it takes for the blood to clot. Microbiology Testing We test a variety of specimen samples for infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or parasites. We often do urine cultures for urinary tract infections. Virology Testing We test for viral infections. This includes rapid tests for respiratory viruses such as influenza, molecular tests for noroviruses, and antibody tests for HIV. Immunology/Molecular Diagnostics Some tests are used to determine whether the immune system is functioning properly. State-of-the-art analysis of DNA and RNA is used to test for a variety of diseases and for the risk of developing certain diseases. Other specialized tests include the ANA, used to screen for autoimmune disease, and Factor V Leiden genotyping for patients with blood clots. Tumor Profiling Laboratory This lab analyzes tumor DNA to predict the sensitivity or resistance of tumors to a

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE, or lupus) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system causes inflammation in the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, and other internal organs. Yale Medicine’s lupus program provides unparalleled access to rheumatologists who are experts in the care and treatment of patients with lupus, as well as the most up-to-date information to promote patients’ well-being. Our rheumatologists coordinate care with experts in a wide range of other specialties to provide comprehensive, multifaceted evaluation and treatment plans. Lupus researchers are also an important part of our program, with the goal of advancing the treatment and understanding of this complex disease. Our program is directed by Fotios Koumpouras, MD, who has conducted extensive research on lupus, serves as principal investigator for several active clinical trials in SLE at Yale, and developed and is principal investigator for the Yale Rheumatology BioRepository. Many patients of Dr. Koumpouras and other Yale Medicine rheumatologists travel long distances for their expertise and understanding of lupus, and with telemedicine, they can continue their treatment at Yale even if they live far away. With sites on the Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) Saint Raphael Campus and the YNHH Interventional Immunology Center at North Haven, the Yale Lupus Program provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment of patients, and education about the disease for patients and their family members. The program provides multidisciplinary evaluations by rheumatologists and experts in a wide range of specialties, including dermatology, nephrology, maternal-fetal medicine, neurology, pulmonary medicine, and cardiology. The program also features: A state-of-the art Infusion Center for administration of the most up-to-date therapies. A Lupus Wellness Program . Lupus can be a complicated condition to understand, and education is the first step in empowering people to be an active part of their treatment decisions and improve the quality of their life. A Transition Program for young adults with lupus that works toward each person’s individual goals, emphasizing education and shared decision-making. One of the unique aspects of our lupus program is a combined Rheumatology–Dermatology Clinic —the first of its kind in Connecticut—where our renowned experts in those two fields work together to provide diagnosis, second opinions, and treatment planning. Rashes or skin lesions may be among the first symptoms of lupus, and dermatologists are often the first doctors to see signs of the disease. Overall, 66% of people with lupus will develop some form of skin disease. By seeing patients together, our experts in dermatology and rheumatology combine resources for a more integrated and holistic approach to this complex illness. In another interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Koumpouras is working with Yale Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences to study and