(Madera, Calif.) – Four Valley Children’s pediatric residents recently had their research abstracts accepted to the 2021 American Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (ASPHO) Conference, taking place virtually April 20-23.
Second-year residents Dr. Ana Emamian, Dr. Daniella Santi, Dr. Adrianna Sosa and Dr. Xue Rachel Yan worked with mentors from several different pediatric specialties, including hematology/oncology, neurology, pathology, diagnostic radiology, infectious disease and cardiology.
“At Valley Children’s, we are fortunate to have faculty that bring a wide array of expertise and experience to the pediatric residency program,” said Dr. Vini Vijayan, Valley Children’s pediatric residency program director. “As a result, we are able to support our residents in any various areas of research that they are interested in.”
Dr. Emamian and Dr. Santi submitted their abstract, titled “Ovarian Teratoma Masquerading as Encephalitis,” in partnership with their mentors, neurologist Dr. Merveen Appu, pathologist Dr. Aleli Siongco, diagnostic radiologist Dr. Fred Laningham and hematologists/oncologists Dr. Wendy Tcheng and Dr. Karen Fernández.
Dr. Fernandez, who in addition to her clinical work serves as the residency program’s research faculty lead and the director of Valley Children’s Solid Tumor Program, also provided mentorship for the other residents whose abstracts were accepted to the conference.
Dr. Sosa developed her abstract, “Rhabdomyoma and Cavernous Hemangioma of the Heart,” in close partnership with pediatric cardiologist Dr. John Caton, pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Malcom MacDonald and Dr. Fernández.
Dr. Xue Rachael Yan’s abstract, “Tumors of the Ribs Diagnosed at a Referral Center in Central California,” was developed in partnership with infectious disease specialist Dr. Fouzia Naeem, diagnostic radiologist Dr. Brian Pugmire and Dr. Fernández.
“It is an honor to mentor pediatric residents in their research endeavors,” Dr. Fernández said. “By supporting our residents, we can instill in them a passion for ceaseless curiosity and learning, which in the long term can help advance the field of pediatric healthcare – and ultimately, improves the lives of children.”
Learn more about Valley Children’s Pediatric Residency Program here.