Welcoming Our New Trisomy 21 Program Team Members

Alyssa Siegel, MD, joins our patient care team. Dr. Siegel completed residency training in general pediatrics at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. She joined the staff of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a member of the Faculty Practice in 2001.

In that role, Dr. Siegel has provided primary care for children of all ages with a range of medical complexities, including many with Down syndrome. She has developed online educational materials regarding the medical complications of trisomy 21 for the American College of Physicians. She has been invited to speak at conferences for medical students and residents at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and at the 2013 national meeting for advanced practice nurses, hosted by CHOP.

“It is fitting,” Dr. Siegel says, “that an experience as a high school volunteer for the Special Olympics inspired thoughts of becoming a doctor, and has finally led here, to the opportunity to care for this special population of children.”

Cassie Strawser, BA, joins us as a research coordinator. Strawser graduated from Swarthmore College with a double major in psychology and cognitive science and worked closely with individuals with Down syndrome during her time at Swarthmore. Her personal interest in Down syndrome stems from the fact that one of her younger brothers has Down syndrome. She became involved with the Trisomy 21 Program at CHOP last year as an observer and is very excited to be joining the team.