Advisory Committees

Haifaa Abdulhaq, MD, is board certified in hematology and medical oncology. She has expertise in malignant hematology, including lymphoproliferative neoplasms, myeloproliferative neoplasms, acute leukemia, multiple myeloma, and stem cell transplantation.

Dr. Abdulhaq is a member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Society of Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation. She is a board member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Central California Chapter, and she is the chair of the Cancer Committee at Community Medical Centers in Fresno, CA. Dr. Abdulhaq has special interest in medical education and is a recipient of the Henry Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching at UCSF. She is also interested in clinical research, and she serves as the principal investigator on many clinical trials on malignant hematology.

Dr. Abdulhaq completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Western Pennsylvania Hospital and Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.

Melissa Cessna, MD, is a hematopathologist and a past medical director of the Flow Cytometry Laboratory at Intermountain Healthcare in Murray, UT. Intermountain Healthcare was an early implementer of minimal residual disease (MRD) testing, using molecular technologies and flow cytometry. Dr. Cessna has served as the system hematopathology lead in a multidisciplinary team at Intermountain, developing testing algorithms for new diagnoses and monitoring patients with hematologic malignancies.

Calvin Chen, DO, is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology. He serves on the management team and leads the hematopathology group for subspecialty sign out at Pathology Associates in Clovis, CA. Dr. Chen provides didactic teaching to hematology fellows and he is   currently the Director of Hematology at Community Regional Medical Center.

Dr. Chen completed a hematopathology fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and received his residency training in pathology at Tufts Medical Center. He is a graduate of Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine and a proud alumnus of University of California, Berkeley.

Srinivas Devarakonda, MD, is an associate professor in the Division of Hematology at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James in Columbus, Ohio and a board-certified hematologist/oncologist. His clinical expertise includes plasma cell cancers, multiple myeloma, and bone transplantation and specializes in the treatment of plasma cell dyscrasias, amyloidosis, and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Devarakonda trains students and trainees in his current role as associate professor at The Ohio State University. He served as associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and associate program director for the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, and the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Devarakonda completed a hematology/oncology fellowship at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, where he was also chief fellow. Dr. Devarakonda completed his internal medicine residency training at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Pennsylvania. He obtained his medical degree at Osmania Medical College in India.

Rashmi Goswami, MD, PhD, FRCPC, DABP, FCAP, obtained her undergraduate degrees in genetics and medical microbiology from the University of Manitoba and her medical degree from the University of Toronto. She completed her residency in anatomical pathology at McGill University and returned to the University of Toronto to complete her PhD on the use of microRNAs as prognostic biomarkers in lymphoma. Dr. Goswami received clinical subspecialty training in hematopathology and molecular genetic pathology at the Vancouver General Hospital/British Columbia Cancer Agency and the MD Anderson Cancer Center. She holds U.S. board certification in both hematopathology and molecular genetic pathology.

Dr. Goswami is a member of the Association of Molecular Pathology (AMP), where she is the hematopathology representative on the AMP Clinical Practice Committee and serves on the AMP Molecular MRD Monitoring in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Working Group. This group is working to provide a comprehensive assessment of the clinical utility of molecular biomarkers in AML MRD monitoring in order to review available molecular test platforms and workflow considerations for clinical testing.

Dr. Goswami is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto.

Fiona He, MD, specializes in the treatment of patients with acute leukemias with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation. Her research interests include investigating immunotherapies for the treatment of acute leukemias in early-phase clinical trials and optimizing the clinical outcomes of older adults who receive intensive chemotherapy and transplantation by using geriatric assessment and testing biomarkers of accelerated aging. 

Dr. He received her MD at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in Hanover, NH. She did her residency in internal medicine and did a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the University of Minnesota.

Michael Kallen, MD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His areas of clinical practice are hematopathology, bone/soft tissue pathology, and general surgical pathology. His research focus is on the subclassification of rare tumors and improvements in diagnostic work. Other areas of interest include resident education.

Jeff Klaus, PharmD, BCPS, obtained his Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy and completed two years of pharmacy residency training at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Since completing residency training he has served as a clinical pharmacy specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and specializes in hematologic malignancies and hematopoietic cell transplantation. He serves as a preceptor for pharmacy residents in the Barnes-Jewish Hospital pharmacy residency programs, for pharmacy students from St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy, and is adjunct faculty at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, where he has delivered lectures on hematologic malignancies.

In his current role, he divides his time between direct patient care, education of pharmacy students and residents, facilitation of clinical research, and the conduct of retrospective research with a focus on the management of hematologic malignancies and infectious diseases.

As a pathologist, Madhurima Koka, MD, PhD, offers a unique perspective and new ideas on ongoing clinical trials based on her experience with morphology, immunophenotype, and molecular genetics. Furthermore, through her experience as a basic scientist, Dr. Koka learned the nuances of study design and data interpretation that allow for the application of scientific techniques to diagnosis and treat malignancies. She has particular interest in understanding the utility of molecular techniques in diagnosis and prognostication in lymphomas and leukemias. 

Dr. Koka works closely with hematologists and oncologists on various clinical-translational studies, which include the application of novel compounds in the treatment of acute leukemia and lymphomas. She is particularly interested in the use of immune-modulating agents and targeted immunotherapies in the treatment of these malignancies. Additionally, Dr. Koka is a co-investigator on a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded grant looking at the causes of childhood mortality in Mali, Africa. Dr. Koka has also provided pathologist support to numerous National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded investigations through the University of Maryland cancer tissue repository.  

Sandra Kurtin, PhD, ANP-C, AOCN, is a hematology/oncology nurse practitioner at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and an assistant professor of clinical medicine and adjunct clinical assistant professor of nursing at the Univrsity of Arizona’s College of Medicine. With over 30 years of experience in advanced practice, her oncology practice focuses on benign and malignant hematological disorders. Her research focuses on health technology engagement, communicative health literacy, and health self-management among older adult cancer survivors, as well as practice transformation to achieve best practice.  

Dr Kurtin is a founding board member and the immediate past president of the Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology (APSHO), as well as a member of American Society of Hematology (ASH), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). In addition, she is a member of the executive committee, board of directors and co-chair of the Nursing Leadership Board for the MDS Foundation. She also serves on the Hematology Board for the American Board of Internal Medicine. In addition to these accolades, she has been an associate editor for The Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology since its inception and an editorial board member for JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, ASH News, The Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, and the ASCO People Living with Cancer website. She has presented numerous regional, national, and international lectures on oncology-related topics and has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. 

Dr Kurtin earned her BSN and MS in oncology nursing, her post-graduate certification in geriatric and adult practice, and her PhD in nursing at the University of Arizona. She is also an inaugural Fellow of Advanced Practice in Oncology (FAPO).

Zeba Niazi Singh, MBBS is an Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore. Her academic and research interest is in myeloid malignancies, both acute and chronic, and specifically the progression of dysplastic, “preleukemic” marrow to overt leukemia, and therapy-related myeloid neoplasms. Her clinical and research interest is multiple myeloma and the development of secondary myeloid neoplasms occurring in the context of prior therapy for myeloma. She is interested in the genetic abnormalities and specifically in the advances in the techniques employed in evaluation of these abnormalities at the chromosome and gene level.

Dr. Singh attended The University of Chicago for her residency in Anatomic Pathology and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a fellowship in Molecular Genetic Pathology. 

Kelly Terrell is a registered nurse at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital & Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri. She received a Bachelor of Science degree at Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College, Saint Louis, in 2011, and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University, Saint Louis, in March of 2017. Her previous experience as a BMT Staff Nurse, Nursing Supervisor, Transplant Coordinator, and Clinical Nurse Manager led to her current role as Clinical Program Manager with the Division of Leukemia, Lymphoma, Cell Therapy & Stem Cell Transplantation. She currently resides in Saint Louis with her husband Charlie and their three children.

Madeline Waldron, PharmD, BCOP, is an oncology pharmacy specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, focusing on malignant hematology. Her clinical responsibilities include providing pharmacy services to patients with leukemia in inpatient and ambulatory settings. Dr. Waldron has been involved in clinical trial implementation and research to improve the quality of patient outcomes across transitions of care. She helped develop a collaborative practice agreement to provide additional support to patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Waldron oversees the hematology/oncology Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee at the Cleveland Clinic as well as several chemotherapy quality committees that are responsible for the review and implementation of new formulary agents, internal care path and guideline updates, and quality improvement projects. She works closely with hospital leadership to ensure cost-effective care across the continuum of cancer management.

Stephen Feldman was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2014 and began a one-year treatment in 2017 with a combination of ibrutinib and obinutuzumab, culminating in a complete remission (MRD undetectable). Mr. Feldman is the facilitator for the CLL Society’s City of Hope Hospital support group.

He earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Hunter College in New York and a master's degree in education and counseling psychology from Fordham University in New York.

Seema Bhat, MD, is a hematologist specialized in treating patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Dr. Bhat is a principal clinical investigator on numerous clinical trials. She also collaborates with laboratory scientists to develop novel therapies for CLL. Dr. Bhat is an assistant professor in the hematology division at The Ohio State University and has served on various national committees, including the NCCN Guidelines panels for cancer- and chemotherapy-induced anemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma and hairy cell leukemia.

Dr. Bhat earned her doctoral degree at Government Medical College of Jammu in India. She completed her residency and fellowship at Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, New York.

Tara Graff, DO, is a medical oncology specialist at Mission Cancer + Blood in Des Moines, Iowa and is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. She serves on the BMS National CAR-T Cell Advisory Board for multiple myeloma and lymphoma and sits on two separate National Lymphoma Advisory Boards. She is a member of the ECOG Clinical Trial Organization and is an educational speaker for lymphoma. Dr. Graff serves as the primary investigator for various clinical trials.

Dr. Graff earned her bachelor’s degree at Elmhurst College and obtained her master’s degree in immunology from Loyola University in Chicago. She earned her doctorate in osteopathic medicine credentials from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida. Her residency training in internal medicine and fellowship in hematology and oncology were completed at the Medical College of Wisconsin at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital. She trained in MRD interpretation through Adaptive Biotechnology.

Marie Sirek, PharmD, BCACP, CPP, is a clinical pharmacy specialist in oral oncology at Billings Clinic Cancer Center in Billings, Montana. Dr. Sirek developed an oral oncology management program at Billings Clinic Cancer Center and works with oncology providers to ensure safe, effective, timely treatment with oral oncolytics.

Dr. Sirek received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from North Dakota State University, completed her PGY1 and PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and is board certified by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties in Ambulatory Care Pharmacy.

Kelly Terrell is a registered nurse at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital & Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri. She received a Bachelor of Science degree at Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College, Saint Louis, in 2011, and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University, Saint Louis, in March of 2017. Her previous experience as a BMT Staff Nurse, Nursing Supervisor, Transplant Coordinator, and Clinical Nurse Manager led to her current role as Clinical Program Manager with the Division of Leukemia, Lymphoma, Cell Therapy & Stem Cell Transplantation. She currently resides in Saint Louis with her husband Charlie and their three children.

Amy Goodrich, RN, MSN, CRNP-AC, is a nurse practitioner in the Hematologic Malignancies Program at The Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore, Maryland where she manages patients with various types of hematologic malignancies, concentrating on the lymphomas. Goodrich also oversees the Cancer Center’s research nurses and is very involved in research operations. She has presented extensively on hematologic malignancies, new agents, symptom management, and a variety of topics important to oncology nursing. 

She earned her undergraduate nursing degree from the University of Pittsburgh and earned her master’s degree from The Johns Hopkins University.

Kathryn T. Maples, PharmD, BCOP currently practices in the outpatient multiple myeloma clinics at Emory Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. She is an active member of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association and is board certified by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties in oncology pharmacy.

She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, and completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice and PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residencies at Virginia Commonwealth University Health, Richmond, VA.

Mark J. Fesler, MD, is a hematology oncologist in his eleventh year as associate professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University. He was formerly the director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at SSM Saint Louis University hospital. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy and has expertise in hematological malignancies including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome. 

Dr. Fesler earned a medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, followed by internal medicine residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, where he was chief resident in his final year. He completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and is board-certified in both hematology and medical oncology. 

Rashmi Goswami, MD, PhD, FRCPC, DABP, FCAP, obtained her undergraduate degrees in genetics and medical microbiology from the University of Manitoba and her medical degree from the University of Toronto. She completed her residency in anatomical pathology at McGill University and returned to the University of Toronto to complete her PhD on the use of microRNAs as prognostic biomarkers in lymphoma. Dr. Goswami received clinical subspecialty training in hematopathology and molecular genetic pathology at the Vancouver General Hospital/British Columbia Cancer Agency and the MD Anderson Cancer Center. She holds U.S. board certification in both hematopathology and molecular genetic pathology.

Dr. Goswami is a member of the Association of Molecular Pathology (AMP), where she is the hematopathology representative on the AMP Clinical Practice Committee and serves on the AMP Molecular MRD Monitoring in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Working Group. This group is working to provide a comprehensive assessment of the clinical utility of molecular biomarkers in AML MRD monitoring in order to review available molecular test platforms and workflow considerations for clinical testing.

Dr. Goswami is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto.

Beth Faiman, PhD, MSN, APRN-BC, AOCN, FAAN is adult nurse practitioner in the Department of Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, and an adjunct faculty at Ursuline College, Case Western Reserve University and Kent State University.    

Dr. Faiman is an active author, presenter, and educator on the topic of multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, plasma cell dyscrasias, general cancer diagnosis and treatment, and management of skeletal and other cancer complications. She is a founding member of the International Myeloma Foundation Nurse Leadership Board and recently appointed to serve on the Hematology Specialty Board (HSB) in the ASH Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Working Group. Dr. Faiman is the current editor-in-chief of The Oncology Nurse APN/PA and is on the editorial board of ASH Clinical News.

Dr. Faiman received her bachelor’s degree in nursing and registered nurse certification at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio. She earned a master’s in nursing and certification as an adult nurse practitioner at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She holds a PhD in clinical research and nursing from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She holds an advanced oncology nurse certification through Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC).

Mary DeRome, MSc, is the director of medical communications and education at the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) in Norwalk, Connecticut where she plans and oversees all MMRF patient and professional education initiatives. Prior to her current position, Ms. DeRome spent twelve years as a senior investigator in small molecule oncology drug discovery at Bayer HealthCare in West Haven, Connecticut.

Ms. DeRome received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, graduate work in pharmacology, and earned a master of science in cell and molecular biology from the University of Connecticut.

Rafael Fonseca, MD, is a hematologist who specializes in the care and research of multiple myeloma and related conditions. He is currently the Getz Family Professor of Cancer and a Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is a consultant in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Mayo Clinic, Arizona, and Chair of the Department of Medicine. Dr. Fonesca is a Mayo Clinic Distinguished Investigator. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, American Association for Cancer Research, and the International Myeloma Society. He also serves as reviewer and in editorial capacities for medical publications including Blood, Lancet, Nature Medicine, Cancer Cell, Leukemia, and the New England Journal of Medicine, among others. He is a frequent reviewer of grants and sits on the SPORE grant review panel.

Dr. Fonseca earned his medical degree at Universidad Anahuac, Mexico. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Miami, Florida and a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, Minnesota.