Meet the Staff

Our team of board-certified pediatric hematologist/oncologists (representing over 80 years of experience!) works with the most dedicated nurses, nurse practitioners, child life specialists, pediatric psychologists, pharmacists, art therapists, and volunteers that have ever been assembled to care for pediatric oncology & blood disorders. The results speak for themselves: the right treatment delivered by a team who cares about each child. We look forward to the opportunity to help you.  

Physicians

• Gregory Plautz, MD
  Chair, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
• L. Kate Gowans, MD
• Eric Kodish, MD
• Michael G. Levien, MD
• Tanya Tekautz, MD
• Margaret Thompson, MD

Advance Practice Nurses

• Holly Clark, ND, RN, CPNP
• Holly Kubaney, RN, MSN, APRN, BC
• Tara Malbasa, RN, MSN, CPNP

Nursing Staff

• Linda Barrus, RN, BSN
• Kathy Bielek, RN, BSN, CPON,
  Nurse Manager
• Lynn Butler, RN
• Maureen Christensen, RN, AD
• Dan Kerniskey, RN, OCN
• Reagan Reese, RN, BSN
• Jenny Weaver, RN

Pharmacist

• Deborah McNutt, PharmD

Support Team

• Linda Meany, LISW
  Social Worker
• Kristy Neylon, LSW, MSW
• Tom Richards, CCLS
  Child Life Specialist
• Mara Richards, PhD,
  Pediatric Clinical Psychologist

Child and Young Adult Brain Tumor Team

The brain tumor team prides itself on excellent communication for each patient among all the different disciplines: the oncologists, the surgeons, the radiation oncologist, and the neurologists work together, meeting twice weekly at the Brain Tumor Institute to make sure each child has care meeting his or her unique needs, and those of the family.

• Tanya Tekautz, MD
  Director, Pediatric and Young Adult Brain Tumor Program
• Bruce Cohen, MD
  Pediatric Neurology
• L. Kate Gowans, MD
  Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
• Bill Bingaman, MD
  Vice Chair, Neurological Surgery
• Michael G Levien, MD
  Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
• Mark Luciano, MD
  Pediatric Neurosurgery
• Steven Toms, MD
  Head, Metastatic Disease, Brain Tumor Institute
• Greg Plautz, MD
  Interim Chair, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
• John Suh, MD
  Chair, Radiation Oncology

Support Team

• Tara Malbasa, RN, MSN, CPNP 
  Advanced Practice Nurse
• Kristy Neylon, LSW, MSW
  Social Worker
• Tom Richards, CCLS
  Child Life Specialist

Pediatric Intensive Care Physicians

When a child is first diagnosed with a malignancy, they can require very specialized care.   Our intensive care unit physicians are uniquely dedicated to the care of these children: staff-level (not trainee level) intensivists are in the hospital around the clock, a staffing level seen in only 10% of children’s hospitals in this country. Parents and physicians often don’t know to inquire about this aspect of care. You can trust that your child, or your patient, is in expert-level hands at all hours of the day or night. We consider them a vital part of our team.

• A. Marc Harrison, MD
  Chair, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
• Elumalai Appachi, MD
  Medical Director, PICU
• Steve Davis, MD
• Michael J. McHugh, MD
• Jose Olarte, MD
• Kathryn L. Weise, MD