Leslie S. Kersun, MD, MSCE, MSEd
Appointments and Referrals: 1-800-TRY-CHOP (1-800-879-2467)
Background
As an attending physician in the Cancer Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, I treat children diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma. My area of clinical focus includes the care of patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma.
As a member of our Leukemia/Lymphoma Steering Committee, I help to ensure that the clinical care of patients with this cancer at Children’s Hospital is consistent, carefully monitored and based upon results of the most current clinical research. My own research includes collaboration with those working on projects related to infections in oncology patients, adolescent and young adult care, psychosocial issues affecting oncology patients and the communication of difficult news.
I was the inpatient medical director for eight years and now am the program director of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program. I have a strong interest in trainee education in addition to the development of innovative ways of teaching various topics in oncology.
Along with our wide range of clinical and laboratory research at Children's Hospital, one of the strongest aspects of our program is the depth of experience and knowledge of our team members. We have a hardworking, motivated, collaborative multidisciplinary group. We are always trying to improve the state of safe, clinical cancer care for our patients and families.
Education and Training
Medical School
MD - Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
Internship
Pediatrics - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Residency
Pediatrics - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology - Children's Regional Medical Center of Seattle, WA
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Board Certification
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology – American Board of PediatricsPediatrics – American Board of Pediatrics
Undergraduate Degree
Graduate Degree
MSCE - University of Pennsylvania: Center for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Philadelphia, PA
MSEd - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Titles and Academic Titles
Program Director, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship
Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Conditions Treated
Departments and Services
Areas of Focus
Laboratories & Research Programs
Research Topics
Research Interests
Bacteremia in stem cell transplant patients and other clinical research related to symptom management & infectious in Oncology patients.
Publications
Papers
2014
Kesselheim JC, Atlas M, Adams D, Aygun B, Barfield R, Eisenman K, Fulbright J, Garvey K, Kersun L, Nageswara Rao A, Reilly A, Sharma M, Shereck E, Wang M, Watt T, Leavey P. Humanism and professionalism education for pediatric hematology-oncology fellows: A model for pediatric subspecialty training. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 2014 Oct 12. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 25307425.
deBlank P, Cole K, Kersun L, Green A, Wilkes JJ, Belasco J, Bagatell R, Bailey LC, Fisher MJ. FDG-PET in two cases of Neurofibromatosis Type I and atypical malignancies. Current Oncology 21(2): e345-8, 2014. PMID: 24764718.
Luskin M, Wertheim G, Morrissette J, Biegel J, Wilmoth D, Kersun L, King R, Paessler M, Simon C, Aplenc R, Loren AW. Brief Report: CLL/SLL diagnosed in an adolescent. Pediatric Blood and Cancer 61(6): 1107-10, 2014. PMID: 24281971.
Seif AE, Fisher BT, Li Y, Torp K, Rheam DP, Huang YV, Harris T, Shah A, Hall M, Fieldston ES, Kavcic M, Vujkovic J, Bailey C, Kersun LS, Reilly AF, Rheingold SR, Walker DM, Aplenc R. Patient and hospital factors associated with induction mortality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood and Cancer, 61(5): 846-52, 2014. PMID: 24249480.
Rapson A, Kersun LS. Oncology house physician model: A response to changes in pediatric resident coverage. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 36 (7): 524-7, 2014. PMID: 24136018.
Abstracts
Books
Chapters
2013
Kersun, LS. Mediastinal Mass. In: Schwartz’s Clinical Handbook of Pediatrics, 5th Ed. Zorc JJ, Alpern ER, Brown LW, Loomes KM, Marino BS, Mollen CJ, Raffini LJ, Eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2013
Kersun, LS. Lymphadenopathy. In: Schwartz’s Clinical Handbook of Pediatrics, 5th Ed. Zorc JJ, Alpern ER, Brown LW, Loomes KM, Marino BS, Mollen CJ, Raffini LJ, Eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2013.
2012
Kersun LS. Hodgkin Lymphoma in The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult Sixth Edition. Editor, M. William Schwartz, MD. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland, 2012.
2011
Kersun LS, Section ed. Neoplastic Disorders. In: Florin TA, Ludwig S, eds. Netter’s Pediatrics. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2011.
Sepe D, Kersun LS. Lymphomas in Children. In: Florin TA, Ludwig S, eds. Netter’s Pediatrics. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2011.
2008
Kersun LS. Hodgkin lymphoma. In: Schwartz MW, editor. The 5-minute pediatric consult. 5th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins; 2008.
2007
Kersun LS, Shemesh E. Depression and anxiety in children at the end of life. In: Kang TI, Klick J, Munson D, editors. Pediatric palliative care: pediatric clinics of North America. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2007.
Posters and Presentations
2015
Kesselheim J, Bhatia N, Cronin A, Collaborative Group of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program Directors. Measuring Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellows’ Skills in Humanism and Professionalism: A Novel Assessment Instrument. Poster presentation at The American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ. May, 2015.
Kersun LS, Mangino JL, Freedman JL, Bagatell R. The Educational Passport for hematology/oncology fellows: A pilot project. Poster presentation at The American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ. May, 2015.
2014
Hill-Kayser CE, Reilly A, Kersun LS, Evageliou N, Both S, Shinkle B, Tochner Z. Proton therapy for treatment of the mediastinum in pediatric patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. Poster presentation at The American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. May, 2014.
Awards and Honors
2018, Department of Pediatrics Alan R. Cohen Master Clinician Award
2015, Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania Dean’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching at an Affiliated Hospital
2006-2009, The Goodman Clinical Oncology Research Scholar
2005, 2008-2011, 2013, 2015, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Faculty Honor Roll
1999, The Senior Resident Humanitarian Award
1996, The Janet Glasgow Memorial Achievement Citation
1996, The Pediatric Faculty Prize
1996, The Charles Eckert Award
1996, The Frederick McCandless Prize
1995, Alpha Omega Alpha
1993-1995, Commendation for Scholastic Excellence
1991-1992, Casque and Gauntlet Senior Honorary Society
Editorial and Academic Positions
Editorial positions
Ad hoc reviewer
2006-present, Integrative Cancer Therapies
2006-present, American Journal of Hematology
2006-present, Bone Marrow Transplantation
2006-present, Pediatric Blood and Cancer
2001-present, Pediatric Emergency Care
Academic and Institutional Committees
2015-present, Curriculum and Teaching Liaison Committee on Medical Education, Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania
2013-2014, Committee on Faculty Teaching, Department of Pediatrics
2013-present, Clinical Competency Committee, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, chair
2013-present, Graduate Medical Education Committee
2011-present, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Committee
2010-present, Faculty Mentor and Member of Clinical Competency Committee, Pediatrics Residency Program
2010-present, Early Recognition and Response Steering Committee
2009-present, Unit Leadership Partners Committee
2008-present, Clinical Practice Committee, Division of Oncology
2007-present, Leukemia/Lymphoma Steering Committee, Division of Oncology
2007-present, Quality Improvement Committee, Division of Oncology
2007-present, Chemotherapy Safety Committee, Division of Oncology
2005-present, Graduate Education Committee, Department of Pediatrics
2004-present, Residency committee interviewer, Department of Pediatrics
Leadership and Memberships
Memberships in Professional Organizations
2004-present, Children’s Oncology Group (COG)
2001-present, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
- 2014-present, Programming Subcommittee
- 2014-present, Education Committee