Mahvish Q. Rahim
<p>Mahvish Q. Rahim, MD, MS, MBA, is an attending physician at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein and Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Rahim’s clinical focus centers on stem cell transplant and cellular therapy for patients with leukemia and sickle cell disease. She also has an interest in fertility preservation for pediatric hematology-oncology patients.</p><p>After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in biology from Bryn Mawr College in 2010, Dr. Rahim earned her Doctor of Medicine at the American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten in 2014. Following this, she earned her Master of Business Administration in health services at DeVry University Keller Graduate School of Management in 2015. Dr. Rahim then completed her pediatric residency at Charleston Area Medical Center, where she was Chief Resident in her third year. In 2021, she completed a hematology-oncology fellowship at Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, where she was Chief Fellow in her third year. Dr. Rahim completed her Master of Science in clinical research at Indiana University School of Medicine in the same year. She remained at this institution to complete her fourth-year stem cell transplant fellowship in 2022.</p><p>Dr. Rahim’s clinical research focuses on the side effects of stem cell transplants and quality improvement. She has shared her work through numerous peer-reviewed publications and invited lectures.</p><p>Dr. Rahim is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. She is a member of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.</p>
Rachel Offenbacher
<p>Rachel Offenbacher, MD, is an attending physician at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) and Assistant Professor, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Marrow and Blood Cell Transplantation at Montefiore Einstein. Since joining the Montefiore team, Dr. Offenbacher’s clinical focus has been pediatric sarcomas.</p><p>After obtaining her Bachelor of Science in biomedical science at The City College of New York in 2014, Dr. Offenbacher earned her Doctor of Medicine at the State College of New York Downstate in 2017. She completed a pediatric internship at CHAM in 2018, followed by her pediatric residency in 2020. Dr. Offenbacher remained at CHAM to pursue a pediatric hematology oncology fellowship, which she completed in 2023.</p><p>Dr. Offenbacher is on a physician-scientist track working in a developmental biology lab, conducting translational bench research at Montefiore Einstein. As a member of a translational sarcoma research lab, Dr. Offenbacher is fascinated by the ability to explore the biological processes behind novel therapeutic approaches before they are used in the clinic. Her research focuses on utilizing difluoromethylornithine to prevent and treat metastatic osteosarcoma. She has seen impressive results in her in vitro and in vivo models and is working to initiate a clinical trial. She is simultaneously working on a project funded by the American Association of Cancer Research, Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis to Treat Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma, which is demonstrating promising results. Dr. Offenbacher’s work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and presented nationally and internationally.</p><p>Dr. Offenbacher is board certified in General Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Association for Cancer Research, the Children’s Oncology Group and the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Offenbacher is also an active member of the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. In 2020 and 2022, she won the Leo M. Davidoff Society Teaching Award; in 2022, she won the Pediatric Research Day Oral Presentation Award from CHAM. Dr. Offenbacher is a volunteer pediatric oncologist at Camp Simcha, a residential camp for children with cancer.</p>
David M. Loeb
<p>Dr. Loeb has an active translational research laboratory focused on understanding bone tumor metastasis. His laboratory developed a clinically relevant mouse model of sarcoma metastasis, and has used this model to perform preclinical testing of novel agents that can interfere with this process. More basic scientific studies in the lab involve exploring the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in Ewing sarcoma migration, invasion, and metastasis. Dr. Loeb is also studying the role of an enzyme called RNA helicase DDX3 in Ewing sarcoma biology, especially how this enzyme affects the repair of damaged DNA. More recently, the laboratory has developed an interest in targeting the metabolic reprogramming associated with metastasis as a way to prevent the outgrowth of distant metastases from disseminated tumor cells.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dr. Loeb is also actively involved in clinical research, including the development of radiopharmaceutical agents for the treatment of bone metastases and the development of a small molecule inhibitor of DDX3. He serves as the local PI for a clinical trial of reduced intensity haploidentical bone marrow transplantation for children with high risk solid tumors. Finally, as an offshoot of his laboratory work, Dr. Loeb is involved in the development of biomarkers of metastatic risk and of minimal residual disease in children, adolescents, and young adults with sarcomas.</p>
<p>Dr. Loeb is a leading pediatric oncologist and NIH-funded researcher. He has extensive expertise in sarcoma research and clinical care and is a bone marrow transplantation specialist. Dr. Loeb’s research spans the spectrum from basic and translational studies to clinical trials using novel therapies.</p>
<p>Dr. Loeb's PubMed bibliography can be found here: </p>
<p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1fiIspwqfwUE46/bibliography/5…;
<p>David Loeb, MD, PhD, is Chief, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Cellular Therapy at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and Professor, Pediatrics and Professor, Developmental and Molecular Biology at Montefiore Einstein. His clinical work focuses on tumors of connective tissue, such as bone and muscle. He also has expertise in the care of children with other solid tumors. As a member of the bone marrow transplantation team, Dr. Loeb also cares for patients with acute leukemias and has expertise in the application of immunotherapy to childhood cancer.</p><p>Dr. Loeb earned his Bachelor of Arts in biology in 1987 at Johns Hopkins University. In 1993, he received his Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and, in 1994, his Doctor of Medicine at Columbia University. In 1994, he also began an internship in Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, followed by a residency in 1995 and a fellowship in Pediatric Hematology Oncology at the same institution.</p><p>Dr. Loeb has an active translational research laboratory focused on understanding bone tumor metastasis. His laboratory developed a clinically relevant mouse model of sarcoma metastasis and has used this model to perform preclinical testing of novel agents that can interfere with this process. One area of focus is the metabolic differences between cancer cells and normal cells, and between metastases and the primary tumor, with the intention of targeting these differences therapeutically. More basic scientific studies in the lab involve exploring the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma migration, invasion and metastasis. Dr. Loeb also studies the role of an enzyme called RNA helicase DDX3 in Ewing sarcoma biology, especially how this enzyme affects the repair of damaged DNA.</p><p>Dr. Loeb is also actively involved in clinical research, including the development of radiopharmaceutical agents for the treatment of bone metastases and the development of a small molecule inhibitor of DDX3. He has also directed a clinical trial of reduced intensity haploidentical bone marrow transplantation for children with high risk solid tumors. Stemming from his laboratory work, Dr. Loeb is involved in the development of biomarkers of metastatic risk and of minimal residual disease in children, adolescents and young adults with sarcomas. Dr. Loeb’s original research, based on his clinical and laboratory studies, has been published in multiple journals and books.</p><p>Dr. Loeb has been a recipient of many awards, including the Director’s Teaching Award in Clinical Science from Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2006, 2010 and 2015, and The Justin Straus Chordoma Research Award in 2009.</p>
Daniel A. Weiser
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Childhood cancer research laboratory</strong></span></p>
<p>Our laboratory is focused on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. In such patients with typically incurable cancer, we are striving to identify new approaches to and types of treatment. We have multiple ongoing projects:</p>
<p><strong>+ Identification of biologic drivers of ultra-high-risk neuroblastoma</strong>. Neuroblastoma is one of the most common and deadly childhood cancers. Despite intensive research, there are limited therapeutic strategies for patients with <em>de novo </em>chemotherapy resistance that leads to particularly poor outcomes. We have been studying neuroblastoma since 2009 and are identifying additional biologic drivers of highly lethal tumors.</p>
<p>We compare tumor features from patients with early death from tumor progression compared to those with a maintained complete response. We assess unique histo-morphologic and proteomic features and computationally integrate these data with genomic and transcriptomic datasets to develop a combined predictor of primary refractory disease. Patients with this entity require non-standard and/or intensified treatment. Oncogenic drivers are being characterized in the lab which will facilitate strategies for novel pharmacologic intervention.</p>
<p><strong>+ Characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells</strong>. We are studying pathways and interactions that results in uncontrolled cell proliferation early in neuroblastoma development with an ultimate goal of identifying new targets and approaches for pharmacologic intervention.</p>
<p><strong>+ Evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma</strong>. With expected outcomes lagging behind those of more common childhood cancers, children with neuroblastoma require new approaches to treatment. Our lab works with multiple international clinical and research consortium groups to perform preclinical studies that substantiate human clinical trials. </p>
<p><strong>+ Detection of circulating tumor DNA in osteosarcoma</strong>. With no reliable non-invasive approach for disease monitoring during and after treatment, we are applying cutting edge next-generation sequencing approaches to identify solid tumors with a blood-based “liquid” biopsies. This will allow clinicians to assess tumor responsiveness to chemotherapy and predict likelihood of recurrence.</p>
<p><strong>+ Assessment of accelerated aging using miRNA-seq in survivors of childhood cancer</strong>. Chemotherapy has many untoward effects on healthy cells and leads to many signs of accelerated aging in children treated for cancer. Using a known microRNA “aging” signature discovered at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, we are studying what causes this phenotype in childhood cancer, with a goal of offering improved intervention to minimize long-term toxicity of treatment.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Physician Summary</span></strong></p>
<p>Daniel A. Weiser, MD, is board-certified in pediatric hematology/oncology with clinical expertise in neuroblastoma and other tumors of the adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, and gonads. He is the medical director of the intra-abdominal solid tumor program at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and brings together a highly specialized multi-disciplinary care team to provide comprehensive treatment for diverse pediatric malignancies. In addition, Dr. Weiser directs a childhood cancer research laboratory that focuses on the identification of new targeted agents for cancer therapy, especially in the treatment of rare and aggressive malignancies such as neuroblastoma. His research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise for improving management of all patients with solid tumors.</p>
<p>Dr. Weiser participates in the efforts of a number of professional organizations including the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Association (ANRA), National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). He has received numerous awards including the Brigid Leventhal Special Merit Award from ASCO and the Conquer Cancer Foundation, and a prestigious K12 from the National Cancer Institute for the training of the next generation of physician-scientists in pediatric cancer. Dr. Weiser is actively involved in teaching and mentorship of trainees, and takes great pride in providing advanced and compassionate care to his patients and their families.</p>
<p><strong>Clinical Expertise</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Neuroblastoma (adrenal tumors)</li>
<li>Wilms tumor (renal tumors)</li>
<li>Hepatoblastoma (liver tumors)</li>
<li>Germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors)</li>
<li>Thyroid and other rare tumors</li>
<li>Experimental therapeutics</li>
<li>Cancer genetics and biomarkers</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Board Certifications</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Pediatrics</li>
<li>Pediatric Hematology/Oncology</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Professional Education</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>M.D. – Stony Brook University, NY</li>
<li>Residency – Children’s Hospital of NY-Presbyterian, Columbia University, NY</li>
<li>Chief Residency – Children’s Hospital of NY-Presbyterian, Columbia University, NY</li>
<li>Fellowship – The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA</li>
</ul>
DR. Weiser's clinical focuses are neuroblastoma and adrenal tumors, Wilms tumor and other kidney (renal) tumors, hepatoblastoma, and other liver tumors, germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors), Thyroid and other rare tumors, experimental therapeutics, and cancer genetics and biomarkers.
Dr. Weiser’s research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise in the treatment of all solid tumors. Dr. Weiser’s laboratory focuses on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. He has multiple ongoing projects, such as identification of biologic drivers of neuroblastoma at ultra-high risk for treatment failure, characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells, and evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma, among others.
<p>Daniel A. Weiser, MD, is a Medical Director of the Intra-abdominal Solid Tumor Program in the Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology department at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. He is also Associate Professor in the Pediatrics and Genetics departments at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His clinical focuses are neuroblastoma and adrenal tumors, Wilms tumor and other kidney (renal) tumors, hepatoblastoma and other liver tumors, germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors), Thyroid and other rare tumors, experimental therapeutics, and cancer genetics and biomarkers. Dr. Weiser is actively involved in teaching and mentorship of trainees and takes great pride in his active participation in patient care.</p><p>Dr. Weiser received his Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology in 1995 at Haverford College, PA. In 2004, he received his Doctor of Medicine at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, NY. He is currently earning his Master of Science in Translational Research at the University of Pennsylvania. He began a residency in Pediatrics at the New York-Presbyterian, Columbia University in 2007. Dr. Weiser then completed a three-year fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. </p><p>Dr. Weiser’s research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise in the treatment of all solid tumors. Dr. Weiser’s laboratory focuses on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. He has multiple ongoing projects, such as identification of biologic drivers of neuroblastoma at ultra-high risk for treatment failure, characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells, and evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma, among others. His research has been published in many reviewed journals. </p><p>Dr. Weiser participates in the efforts of a number of professional organizations including the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). He has received many awards including the Brigid Leventhal Special Merit Award through ASCO, and he has been awarded a prestigious K12 from the NCI for the training of the next generation of physician-scientists in pediatric cancer.</p><p>He is board certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and General Pediatrics.</p>
Adit L. Tal
<p>Adit Tal, MD, is an Attending Physician at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein (CHAM) and an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Marrow and Blood Cell Transplantation at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Since joining the Montefiore team, Dr. Tal’s clinical focus has been the treatment of pediatric leukemia and lymphoma, and the supportive care of children with cancer.</p><p>Dr. Tal received her Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University in 2008, followed by her Doctorate of Medicine at the Sackler School of Medicine. She began her postgraduate training in 2013 at CHAM and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, following her Pediatrics residency with a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellowship.</p><p>Building on her clinical practices, Dr. Tal’s research focuses on novel therapeutic targets for advanced treatments in metastatic osteosarcoma. She is examining a signaling pathway crucial to bone development and differentiation, and targeting this pathway to treat osteosarcoma. Her work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed articles.</p><p>Dr. Tal is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a member of many professional societies including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Children’s Oncology Group, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. She is also a member of the Professional Development Committee with the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, and is a volunteer pediatric oncologist at Happiness Is Camping, a residential camp for children with cancer and their families.</p>
Kaitlin L. Strumph
<p>Kaitlin L. Strumph, DO, MS, is Assistant Director, Pediatric Sickle Cell at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and Assistant Professor, Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her clinical focus centers on benign hematology with a focus on hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease and thalassemias, as well as other qualitative and quantitative red blood cell disorders.</p><p>After obtaining her Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from Muhlenberg College in 2009, Dr. Strumph earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the New York Institute of Technology in 2014. She completed her internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of Connecticut in 2017 before completing a fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in 2021. Dr. Strumph then earned her Master of Science in clinical research methods at Montefiore Einstein in 2021.</p><p>Dr. Strumph's research is focused on understanding the etiology and downstream effects of ischemic cerebral injury in sickle cell disease. Her work has been shared through numerous peer-reviewed articles and abstracts, and she has given several invited presentations. Dr. Strumph has been a reviewer for <em>Pediatric Blood & Cancer, PLOS ONE</em> and the <em>Journal Pediatric Infectious Disease</em>.</p><p>Dr. Strumph is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology Oncology. She is a member of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, the American Society of Hematology and the Children’s Oncology Group. In 2020, she received the Leo M. Davidoff Society Teaching Award.</p>
Moriah Rabin
<p>Moriah Rabin, MD, is an attending physician at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein (CHAM) and Assistant Professor, Pediatrics at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her clinical focus is on the treatment of children with leukemia and lymphoma, and childhood cancer survivorship. She is the director of the Reassessment and Evaluation After Cancer Treatment (REACT) survivorship clinic at CHAM.
</p><p>After receiving her Bachelor of Arts from Barnard College, Columbia University in 2009, Dr. Rabin earned her Doctor of Medicine at Einstein in 2014. For her medical training, she stayed at Einstein and CHAM, first completing her residency in pediatrics in 2017, after which she was selected to take an additional year as Chief Resident, then completing her fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology in 2021.
</p><p>Dr. Rabin’s research centers on novel immunotherapeutic approaches, particularly the use of CAR T cells, to improve treatment outcomes and decrease late effects of cancer therapy for pediatric cancer patients. Her research interests also include improving the medical, cognitive, psychosocial and reproductive outcomes for childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Dr. Rabin's work has been widely presented at national conferences and published in leading peer-reviewed journals.
</p><p>Dr. Rabin is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in both General Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, the American Society of Hematology and the Children’s Oncology Group. In 2021, Dr. Rabin was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She is a recipient of the Leo M. Davidoff Society Award for Excellence in Teaching Medical Students.
</p>
Kerry A. Morrone
<p>Anemia, hospitalist medicine, general pediatrics</p>
Dr. Morrone focuses on classical hematology, particularly sickle cell disease and hemoglobinopathies, platelet disorders, thrombosis, and bone marrow failure syndromes.
Dr. Morrone is committed to improving quality of care and health care utilization in chronic illness, particularly sickle cell disease, and thalassemia through her research
<p>Kerry Morrone, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the Director of the Sickle Cell Program and the Director of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Fellowship Program at Montefiore. Dr. Morrone focuses on classical hematology, particularly sickle cell disease and hemoglobinopathies, platelet disorders, thrombosis, and bone marrow failure syndromes.</p><p>Dr. Morrone graduated from New York University, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 2003. She then attended the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she received her Doctor of Medicine in 2007 and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Morrone completed her pediatric residency, chief residency, and pediatric hematology oncology fellowship all at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She has also been recognized for her teaching efforts many times and won the Leo M. Davidoff Society – Albert Einstein College of Medicine Teaching Award in 2010 and 2015.</p><p>Dr. Morrone is committed to improving quality of care and health care utilization in chronic illness, particularly sickle cell disease, and thalassemia through her research. Other current research interests include pulmonary complications of sickle cell disease particularly asthma and acute chest syndrome, in addition to infectious complications and thrombotic complications of sickle cell disease.</p>
William B. Mitchell
<p>William Beau Mitchell, MD, is Director, Hemostasis and Thrombosis at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein and Associate Professor, Pediatrics at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Mitchell’s clinical focus centers on pediatric hematology, particularly bleeding and clotting disorders, with a special interest and expertise in platelet disorders.</p><p>After earning his Doctor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in 1994, Dr. Mitchell completed a pediatric internship at Boston Medical Center in 1995, followed by his pediatric residency at the same institution in 1997. He then completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology oncology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 2001 and a research fellowship in the laboratory of blood and vascular biology at Rockefeller University in 2006.</p><p>Dr. Mitchell’s clinical research interests include novel therapies for rare blood disorders, hematological manifestations of disease, and transition from pediatric to adult care for patients with rare blood disorders. His basic science research interests include mechanisms of action of novel immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) therapies, platelet function in sickle cell disease, and the production of platelets from stem cells. Dr. Mitchell has been principal investigator and site principal investigator on a number of research projects, and he has given several national and international presentations. His work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed publications, books, chapters, and monographs, and he is an Associate Editor for Nature Pediatric Research. He is also a reviewer for many scientific journals, including the <em>Journal of Pediatrics: X</em>, <em>Pediatric Blood and Cancer</em> and the <em>Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis</em>.</p><p>Dr. Mitchell is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology Oncology. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the International Society for Hemostasis and Thrombosis (ISTH), and the American Society for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (ASPHO). Dr. Mitchell has received two U.S. patents for his work in “Regulation of Integrin Surface Expression” and “Megakaryocyte and Platelet Production from Stem Cells.”</p>