Dr. Ayala is the director of the Hemophilia and Bleeding Disorders Treatment Center at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. She also is the hematology leader of the Young Women Bleeding Disorders/Menorrhagia Clinic, which focuses on a multidisciplinary approach to bleeding symptoms in girls and young women. Dr. Ayala also is involved in the Immune Dysregulation Clinic, which evaluates patients with autoimmune cytopenias in a multidisciplinary approach. Dr. Ayala joined the hospital in 2000. She was the chair of the Division of Hematology/Oncology between 2013-2017 and also served as interim director for the division between 2015-2016. Dr. Ayala's research experience includes multicenter national and international projects. Dr. Ayala received her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, her residency training at the San Juan City Hospital in Puerto Rico and her fellowship training at the Emory University School of Medicine Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Ayala is a member of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Research Society. Dr. Ayala is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). Her top areas of expertise are Hemophilia A, Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), Blood Clots, and Evans Syndrome.

Dr. Vlachos is the chief of hematology in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida, and professor of pediatrics (PAR) in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She joined the hospital staff in 2024. She was previously professor of pediatrics at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and attending physician in hematology/oncology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center/Northwell Health, where she was head of the Bone Marrow Failure Program and head of the pediatric hematology/oncology trials office. Dr. Vlachos is internationally known for clinical care and expertise in bone marrow failure syndromes and her transformational research in Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) syndrome, a rare inherited bone marrow failure syndrome. Dr. Vlachos is the founder and has directed the Diamond Blackfan Anemia Registry (DBAR) of North America since its inception in 1991. She is the principal investigator and co-investigator on multiple grants funded by the National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She has published numerous articles on her research findings and has been invited to author papers and book chapters on bone marrow failure syndromes and DBA. Dr. Vlachos is a member of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board for the Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Registry, is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation and holds a position on the Scientific Program Committee for Bone Marrow Failure of the American Society of Hematology. She earned her medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. She completed her residency in pediatrics at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York. She then completed a clinical fellowship in bone marrow transplantation at North Shore University Hospital, followed by a fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Videos Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome Expert Dr. Adrianna Vlachos at Johns Hopkins All Children’s. Dr. Vlachos is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). Her top areas of expertise are Aase Syndrome, Pure Red Cell Aplasia, Aplastic Anemia, and Transient Erythroblastopenia of Childhood.

Dr. Mayer is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute. She specializes in the diagnosis and management of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She is also the medical director of the Vascular Anomalies and Birthmarks Program at the hospital. She cares for patients with benign and aggressive vascular tumors, lymphatic and venous malformations, and overgrowth syndromes. She was named the William A. Baumgartner Physician of the Year for Johns Hopkins All Children's in the 2024 Johns Hopkins Medicine Clinical Awards. She previously received the hospital’s Best Consulting Physician Award in 2017. Dr. Mayer is the author of more than 30 publications and two textbook chapters. She has presented over 22 research abstracts at national and international medical conferences. She is program director of a three-year fellowship training program in pediatric hematology-oncology on the St. Petersburg, Florida, campus. Dr. Mayer joined Johns Hopkins All Children’s in 1996. Dr. Mayer received her medical degree with honors from Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire. She completed her pediatric residency, hematology-oncology fellowship, and clinical research fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine in Connecticut. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and an active member and clinical researcher with Children’s Oncology Group, American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, and the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies. Dr. Mayer is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). Her top areas of expertise are Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Evans Syndrome, Acute Monoblastic Leukemia (AmoL), and Teratoma of the Mediastinum.

Dr. Betensky is an assistant professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Hematology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a pediatric hematologist in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Betensky is director of the hospital's pediatric thrombosis program, providing care for patients with complex thrombotic disorders. She has received various grants and awards to support her research in pediatric venous thromboembolism. Dr. Betensky also has worked to provide medical education, develop research collaborations, and build capacity of hematology programs in Latin America Dr. Betensky earned her medical degree at Universidad Anahuac in Mexico City, Mexico and her masters of public health at Boston University School of Public Health. She completed her pediatric residency and fellowship in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Betensky is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). Her top areas of expertise are Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), Anemia, and Thrombectomy.

Dr. Metts specializes in pediatric hematology/oncology in the Johns Hopkins All Children's Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute. He sees patients on our main campus in St. Petersburg and at the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Outpatient Care Center in Tampa. He joined the hospital in 2016. He received his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and completed an internship and residency in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital through the University of South Florida Morsani School of Medicine. Dr. Metts then trained at Emory University School of Medicine as a pediatric hematology/oncology fellow. His clinical interests include sarcomas, rare solid tumors, and Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials for pediatric solid tumors. Dr. Metts is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). His top areas of expertise are Osteosarcoma, Ewing Sarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, and Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

Dr. Cruz Flores is a pediatric oncologist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s. She joined the hospital staff in 2020. She earned her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. She completed an internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, where she also served as chief resident. She completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center/Children’s Hospital New Orleans, followed by a fellowship in pediatric neuro-oncology at Johns Hopkins All Children’s. Dr. Flores is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). Her top areas of expertise are Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) and Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1).

Dr. Dean is a hematologist-oncologist in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute. She joined the hospital staff in 2021. She was previously an attending physician with Pediatric Specialists of Virginia in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and with Children’s National Hospital. Dr. Dean was the director of the Long-Term Follow-Up program at Pediatric Specialists of Virginia and Children’s National Hospital and director of the neuro-oncology program at Pediatric Specialists of Virginia. She was also a senior physician on the leukemia and lymphoma team. She was an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Science. Dr. Dean has published peer-reviewed articles, authored book chapters and lectured both nationally and internationally. Her clinical and research interests include the impact of physical activity on overall function, cardiac function and quality of life in leukemia and lymphoma patients. Dr. Dean earned her medical degree from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She completed an internship and residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at St. Louis Children’s Hospital/Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Dean is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). Her top areas of expertise are Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), and Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1).

Neil Goldenberg is a Pediatric Hematologist Oncology provider in Saint Petersburg, Florida. His top areas of expertise are Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis, Blood Clots, Thrombectomy, and Gastrostomy.

Dr. Foxworthy is a hematologist-oncologist in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute. She joined the hospital staff in 2024. She sees patients at the hospital’s main campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, and at Outpatient Care, Tampa. She earned her medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia. She completed her internship and residency in pediatrics at University of Alabama at Birmingham, followed by a fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also earned her Master of Science in Public Health with a concentration in outcomes research from University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. . Her top areas of expertise are Infantile Neutropenia and Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP).

Dr. Booth specializes in bone marrow transplant as a hematologist-oncologist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. She joined the hospital staff in 2023. She earned her medical degree at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She completed her residency at University of Florida, College of Medicine-Jacksonville and Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. She then completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology, followed by a fellowship in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant, immunotherapy, at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and University of Arizona, College of Medicine-Phoenix. . Her top areas of expertise are Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), Infantile Neutropenia, Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), and Bone Marrow Transplant.

Dr. Al-Ghafry is an assistant professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, practicing pediatric hematology at the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute. She joined the hospital staff in 2023. Dr. Al-Ghafry specializes in hemostasis, thrombosis and transfusion medicine in pediatric patients. Her research focuses on laboratory measures of bleeding and thrombotic risk in special pediatric populations. She is the author of multiple peer reviewed publications. She was previously a consultant physician in the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Royal Hospital in Oman. Dr. Al-Ghafry earned her medical degree from Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar. She completed her residency in pediatrics and served as chief resident at the University of South Alabama/Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. She then completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York. She also completed a fellowship in transfusion medicine at New York Blood Center/Columbia University Medical Center in New York. . Her top area of expertise is Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP).

Dr. New is the director of the Sickle Cell Disease Program in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute. She joined the hospital staff in 2023. She was previously a hematologist-oncologist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where she most recently served as director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and clinical director of the Egleston Sickle Cell Program in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Before that she was the Egleston hospital’s section chief of hematology-oncology and clinical director in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center in Egleston. She was also associate professor of pediatrics at Emory Pediatric Institute. Dr. New has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has given many talks internationally, nationally and regionally. Her research interests include recruitment for multi-center trials in sickle cell, as well as global initiatives in sickle cell disease service, education and awareness. Dr. New earned her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. She completed her pediatric internship and residency at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She then completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at Columbia University/New York Presbyterian Medical Center. . Her top areas of expertise are Sickle Cell Disease, Congenital Hemolytic Anemia, Hemoglobinopathy, and Hemolytic Anemia.

Dr. Grana specializes in pediatric hematology/oncology in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute. She joined the hospital medical staff in 1992. Dr. Grana earned her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. She trained in pediatrics at University Children’s Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and completed a pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Florida. . Her top areas of expertise are Acute Monoblastic Leukemia (AmoL), Neuroblastoma, Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes, and Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP).

Dr. Stapleton is the division chief of oncology and director of pediatric neuro-oncology at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Dr. Stapleton joined the hospital in 2007. She has formal training in pediatric neuro-oncology. She received the Armstrong Award for Quality and Patient Safety for Johns Hopkins All Children's in the 2024 Johns Hopkins Medicine Clinical Awards. Dr. Stapleton is on the Pediatric Palliative Care Team at Johns Hopkins All Children’s, and she specializes in symptom control and end of life care. She has been awarded numerous grants for phase I studies for patients with brain and spinal cord tumors as well as clinical research in pediatric palliative care. Dr. Stapleton’s research experience includes investigator-initiated and multi-center research projects. Dr. Stapleton is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of South Florida and an assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Stapleton completed her medical training at St. Louis University School of Medicine, residency training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and fellowship training at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Stapleton also served 13 years in the United States Air Force. Dr. Stapleton is a member of the American Board of Pediatrics, the Children’s Oncology Group, the Society of Neuro-Oncology, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, and America Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. . Her top areas of expertise are Medulloblastoma, Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes, Glioma, Histiocytosis, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

Dr. Oshrine specializes in blood and marrow transplants as a pediatric hematologist/oncologist in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute. His clinical focus is in the treatment of high-risk leukemias with blood and marrow transplantation, and his research focus is in immune recovery after transplant. He joined the hospital in 2014 after completing a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He received the Excellence in Service & Professionalism Award in the 2018 Johns Hopkins Medicine Clinical Excellence Awards. . His top areas of expertise are Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (cGvHD), Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), Graft Versus Host Disease (GvHD), Bone Marrow Transplant, and Gastrostomy.

Dr. Chellapandian is the division chief of blood and marrow transplant and specializes in bone marrow transplant as a hematologist-oncologist and serves as Director of the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy for Non-Malignant Conditions (CCGNC) in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute. He joined the hospital staff in 2017. Dr. Chellapandian earned his medical degree from Madurai Medical College and then trained at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, both in India. He completed a residency in pediatrics at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Chellapandian completed a pediatric hematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation fellowship at Hospital for Sick Children/University of Toronto and an advanced fellowship on bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Chellapandian's clinical and research interests include hematopoietic stem cell transplant for primary immunodeficiency, immune dysregulation disorders, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and treatment of histiocytic disorders. He has special focus on ex-vivo graft engineering techniques and autologous gene therapy. He has adapted new methods of T- cell depletion using haploidentical transplantation to transplant patients lacking a suitable matched donor. He has numerous scientific papers and review articles published in this field. . His top areas of expertise are Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), Non-Langerhans-Cell Histiocytosis, Infantile Neutropenia, Reticulohistiocytoma, and Bone Marrow Transplant.

Dr. Azer specializes in pediatric hematology and oncology, caring for hospitalized patients at Johns Hopkins All Children’s. She is a hematologist-oncologist at the Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute. She joined the hospital staff in 2023. She earned her medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School/Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. She then completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at Emory University School of Medicine/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Azer’s clinical interest is in hematology with a focus on disorders of hemostasis and thrombosis. She was awarded NIH T32 funding in her fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine to conduct research investigating the biophysics of platelets in bleeding disorders including von Willebrand Disease, inherited platelet disorders, and bleeding disorders of unknown cause. Her passion extends to caring for patients with complications of sickle cell disease in the inpatient setting. Dr. Azer cares for patients at the hospital’s main campus in St. Petersburg, FL. Dr. Azer’s scholarly contributions have been published in peer-reviewed journals and she has presented at national medical conferences. . Her top area of expertise is Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP).

Dr. Guedes specializes in pediatric hematology and oncology, caring for hospitalized patients at Johns Hopkins All Children’s. He joined the hospital staff in 2023. He earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed his pediatric residency at University of Florida Shands Children’s Hospital. He then completed a pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship at Duke University Medical Center and also served as pediatric hematology-oncology chief fellow. . His top area of expertise is Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP).

Chelsea Sachs is a Pediatric Hematologist Oncology provider in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Her top area of expertise is Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP).

Colin Moore is a Pediatric Hematologist Oncology provider in St Petersburg, Florida. His top areas of expertise are Ewing Sarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba Syndrome.