I am the Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. My clinical interests center on hemoglobin disorders, including pediatric and adult sickle cell disease and thalassemia. I am also a clinical investigator with active research programs in these areas. My major research interests focus on exercise responses, inflammation and vascular function as well as their impact on cardiopulmonary fitness, clinical outcomes and physical functioning in children and young adults with sickle cell anemia. I am also the principal investigator of several other protocols at Lurie Children's Hospital that are aligned with my interests in exercise physiology, free-living physical activity, habitual exercise patterns and aerobic training in this population. Other areas of clinical and research focus include patient-reported outcomes, quality of life, transition to adult care, patient-centered medical homes, health disparities and parental decision making regarding research participation in sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

Cardiopulmonary fitness, exercise responses, aerobic training, free-living physical activity, exercise prescription, inflammation, and endothelial function in children and young adults with sickle cell disease. Also career development of trainees (medical students, residents, fellows) as well as junior/mid-career faculty.

Children and young adults with sickle cell disease, thalassemia and general hematology conditions. Also practice management and quality/safety improvement.