Hematology-Oncology

The division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology is involved in a variety of research projects ranging from clinical drug trials (research to evaluate the effectiveness of medications in people) to epidemiology (incidence and prevalence of disease in populations) and quality-of-life studies, all with the goal of improving care for children with cancer and finding a cure for their illnesses. All our studies are strictly monitored by multiple organizations, including Health Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. 

Our team of highly skilled professionals includes doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, clinical social workers, child life specialists, a psychiatrist, psychologists, clinical pharmacists, a nutritionist, researchers, clinical research assosicates, clinical administrators spiritual care staff, school teachers, awell as a massage therapist, an art therapist, and music therapists, who all help coordinate a comprehensive care plan for each child.

Department head:

Dr. David Mitchell, Division Director

• Dr. Sharon Abish
• Dr. Nada Jabado
• Dr. Christine Sabapathy
• Dr. Jitka Stankova
• Dr. Catherine Vézina
• Dr. Surabhi Rawal
• Dr. Catherine Goudie
• Dr. Vicki Scholten
• Ann-Marie Suess, Nurse Manager
• Josée Pacifico, Assistant Nurse Manager
• Alison Steeves, Assistant Nurse Manager
• Stephanie Mann, Assistant Nurse Manager

We are a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to pediatric cancer research. The COG was formed in 2000 as a merger of the Children's Cancer Group (CCG) and the Pediatric Oncology Group (POG), of which the Montreal Children’s Hospital was a founding member in 1980. We share the COG’s vision to eliminate the personal, family and societal burden of child and adolescent cancers.

We are also a member of the National Wilm’s Tumour Study Group as well as the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group (IRSG). 

Our inpatient unit is located on B7 and includes 12 large private rooms with plenty of natural light, a large play room and a family room.

The Hematology-Oncology Day Treatment Centre (DTC) receives more than 7,000 visits a year.  The DTC is open five days a week, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The DTC has a waiting room/playroom, a triage room, six examination rooms, two treatment rooms, an observation room with nine  beds, a medication room and two documentation rooms. The Oncology satellite pharmacy is also located in the DTC. Our Day Treatment Centre staff provide complex care consisting of the administration of chemotherapy and adjuvant monoclonal antibody drugs; transfusions of blood products; and assessment and treatment of symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting, infection and psychological distress. For the patient who requires emergency care or elective admission, the team works closely with staff in the hospital’s Division of Hematology/Oncology as well as with consultation services and resources in the community to best coordinate care for the patient and a discharge plan from the hospital.

Our outpatient clinics include:

• Daily oncology clinics
• Benign hematology follow-up clinic
• Outpatient consultation service
• Neuro-oncology clinic
• Ortho-oncology clinic
• Post-therapy, leukemia and solid tumour follow-up clinic
• Bone marrow transplant follow up clinic
• Thalassemia and hemophilia clinic
• Long term follow-up clinic
• Sickle cell clinic 

The division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology is involved in a variety of research projects ranging from clinical drug trials (research to evaluate the effectiveness of medications in people) to epidemiology (incidence and prevalence of disease in populations) and quality-of-life studies, all with the goal of improving care for children with cancer and finding a cure for their illnesses. All our studies are strictly monitored by multiple organizations, including Health Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. 

We are an active member of the Children’s Oncology Group.

Our researchers include Dr. Janus Rak, Dr. Nada Jabado, and Dr. Koja Eppert whose cutting-edge works has focused on improving treatments and outcomes for children diagnosed with childhood cancers and tumours.