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Naomi J. Balamuth, MD

Naomi J. Balamuth, MD

Naomi J. Balamuth, MD

Naomi J. Balamuth, MD, is a Pediatric Oncologist and the Medical Director of Medication Safety at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She has a special interest in pediatric sarcomas.

Areas of expertise: Solid tumors, Bone and soft tissue sarcomas


215-590-3025

267-426-0762

About Naomi J. Balamuth, MD

My area of interest is in pediatric sarcomas, a subset of solid tumors. The majority of my time is spent in clinical care and improving our global approach to sarcomas. I am working on building up the sarcoma program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to ensure we have a team approach to these complicated tumors in children, and to integrate the best new and established treatments for these patients.

At Children's Hospital, we are first and foremost a family care center. I work to educate families and patients to understand the diagnosis and treatment plan so everyone is on the same page. I talk to families about the process and have them participate in the child's care. I also include the child in the discussion, in an age appropriate manner.

We are creating a team structure at Children's Hospital to bring innovative treatment to our patients. Our sarcoma physicians and researchers meet frequently to ensure that each patient is receiving the latest and best treatment protocols. We also have hired our first nurse practitioner, who specializes in sarcomas.

Children's Hospital has the unique capacity to take care of complicated patients with sarcomas. We have outstanding clinical care and a close relationship with our colleagues who are advancing our understanding and treatment of these challenging tumors.

Titles

Attending Physician

Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Certifications

Pediatric Hematology-Oncology – American Board of Pediatrics

Pediatrics – American Board of Pediatrics

Awards and Honors

2008 & 2009, Hyundai Hope on Wheels Clinical Scholar, The  Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
2007, Amgen Hematology & Oncology Fellowship Award, The  Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
2006, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Young Investigator Award, The  Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
2005, Anne E. Dyson Advocacy Award, The  Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
2002, Louis G. Welt Outstanding Thesis Award, Yale University

Leadership and Memberships

Memberships in Professional Organizations

2006-present , American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
2006-present , American Society of Clinical Oncology
2006-present , American Association for Cancer Research
2006-present , American Society of Hematology
2002-present , American Academy of Pediatrics

Editorial and Academic Positions

Academic and Institutional Committees

2012-present, Epic Clinical Champion, Oncology

Education & training

Undergraduate Degree

Columbia University, NY

Medical Degree

MD - Yale University, New Haven, CT

Internship

Pediatrics - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA

Residency

Pediatrics - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA

Fellowship

Hematology/Oncology  - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA

Publications

Publications

2013

Proton versus photon radiation therapy for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma: the need for a customized approach. Hill-Kayser C, Tochner Z, Both S, Lustig R, Reilly A, Balamuth N, Womer R, Maris J, Grupp S, Bagatell R. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2013 Oct;60(10):1606-11. doi: 10.1002/pbc.24606. Epub 2013 Jun 4. PMID: 23737005

2007

Use of rituximab in conjunction with immunosuppressive chemotherapy as a novel therapy for Epstein Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Balamuth NJ, Nichols KE, Paessler M, Teachey DT. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2007 Aug;29(8):569-73.

Books

Chapters

2008

Kazak AE, Alderfer MA, Rodriguez A. Psychological issues in cancer survival in pediatric populations. In Miller S, Bowen D, Croyle R, Rowland J, editors. Handbook of behavioral science and cancer. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2008. p.449-65.

Pentz RD, Haight AE, Noll RB, Barfield R, Pelletier W, Davies S, et al. The ethical justification for a minor sibling bone marrow donation: a case study. The Oncologist. 2008. p. 148-51.

About the Patient Experience Rating System

The patient experience rating is an average of all responses to the care provider-related questions from surveys submitted by patient families and verified by our survey partner National Research Corporation (NRC Health), an independent company that specializes in patient experience. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question. Responses are measured using percent positive scoring. Percent positive is the percentage of respondents who answered with the most desirable response. We are committed to transparency and sharing the voices of our patients and families. Comments are reviewed before posting to ensure accuracy, privacy, and relevance. To provide meaningful feedback, comments are displayed on provider profiles once a sufficient number have been received. All feedback is also shared internally to support learning, recognition, and continuous improvement. The comments reflect the experiences and perspectives of the patients and families who submitted them. The comments are not endorsed by and do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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