Monica Bhatia, MD

Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
Cancer Care, Pediatrics
More specialties
Accepting New Patients
Treats Children
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Overview

Monica Bhatia, MD specializes in the care of children with noncancerous blood disorders who may benefit from bone marrow transplantation, especially sickle cell anemia. She and her colleagues are working to reduce the toxicity (side effects) and complications of this treatment without compromising its effectiveness, and to make it available to more patients.

The field of pediatric hematology brings with it many intellectual challenges, and bone marrow transplantation in particular is especially dynamic. Dr. Bhatia has the opportunity to provide care for the sickest children, potentially curing their disease. She builds strong relationships with her patients and their families that last for years. It is inspiring for her to see young patients grow up to lead healthy, productive lives.

NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital has a robust program for bone marrow transplantation for sickle cell anemia - the only cure for this disease. Dr. Bhatia and her team have witnessed remarkable results among children who are cured with bone marrow transplantation and spared from the potentially life-threatening complications of sickle cell disease.

Yet despite the advances made, only 15 percent of patients with sickle cell disease have a matched sibling bone marrow donor. Therefore, Dr. Bhatia and her team conduct research to evaluate a procedure called "CD34-selected stem cell transplantation" to remove T-cells from donor bone marrow for patients without a matched sibling donor. This approach reduces the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a potential complication of bone marrow transplantation in which T-cells from the donor attack the tissue of the recipient. This approach to harnessing stem cells could potentially make bone marrow transplantation a safer, effective option for many patients who are seeking a cure for sickle cell disease.

Dr. Bhatia and her colleagues are currently assessing reduced-intensity transplantation, which uses lower doses of chemotherapy to decrease the risk of side effects and long-term complications without lowering the effectiveness of treatment. She is also interested in looking for ways to further improve the quality of life of patients who have had a bone marrow transplant in addition to fertility preservation.

Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated

  • Acute Myeloid Leukemia
  • Bone Marrow Disorders
  • Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplants
  • Chemotherapy
  • Hemoglobinopathy
  • Immunodeficiency Disorder
  • Pediatric Bone Marrow
  • Sickle Cell Anemia

Academic Appointments

  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics at CUMC

Administrative Titles

  • Director, Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program

Hospital Affiliations

  • NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital

Gender

  • Female

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Location(s)

Insurance Accepted

Aetna

  • Aetna Signature Administrators
  • EPO
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • NYP Employee Plan
  • NY Signature
  • POS
  • PPO
  • Student Health

Affinity Health Plan

  • Essential Plan
  • Medicaid Managed Care

Amida Care

  • Special Needs

Cigna

  • EPO
  • Great West (National)
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • POS
  • PPO

Emblem/GHI

  • Medicare Managed Care
  • PPO

Emblem/HIP

  • ConnectiCare
  • EPO
  • Essential Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • POS
  • PPO
  • Select Care (Exchange)
  • Vytra

Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield

  • EPO
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • PPO

Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Essential Plan
  • Medicaid Managed Care

Fidelis Care

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Essential Plan
  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care

Healthfirst

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Leaf (Exchange)
  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care

Local 1199

  • Local 1199

MagnaCare (National)

  • MagnaCare

Medicare

  • Railroad
  • Traditional Medicare

Multiplan

  • Multiplan

MVP Health Care

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Essential Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid Managed Care

Quality Health Management

  • Quality Health Management

UnitedHealthcare

  • Compass (Exchange)
  • Empire Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid (Community Plan)
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • Oxford Freedom
  • Oxford HMO
  • Oxford Liberty
  • POS
  • PPO

VNSNY CHOICE

  • Medicare Managed Care
  • SelectHealth
  • Special Needs

WellCare

  • Medicare Managed Care
  • New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)

World Trade Center Health Plan

  • World Trade Center Health Plan

*Please contact the provider’s office directly to verify that your particular insurance is accepted.

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • St. George's University School of Medicine (Grenada)
  • Residency: Albany Medical Center Hospital, NY
  • Fellowship: Childrens National Medical Center

Board Certifications

  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
America's Top Doctor
NY Top Doctor

Research

Clinical Trials

NCT00408447 Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant to Induce Mixed Donor Chimerism in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia

NCT00920972 A Study of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in Non-Malignant Disease Using a Reduced-Intensity Preparatory Regime

NCT02452034 A Study of the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous (IV) and Powder for Oral Suspension Formulations of Posaconazole (POS) in Immunocompromised Pediatric Subjects With Neutropenia

NCT02766465 A Study to Compare Bone Marrow Transplantation to Standard Care in Adolescents and Young Adults With Severe Sickle Cell Disease (BMT CTN #1503)

NCT02851407 A Phase 3, Randomized, Adaptive Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Defibrotide vs Best Supportive Care in the Prevention of Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease in Adult and Pediatric Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

NCT02867800 Abatacept for Graft Versus Host Disease Prophylaxis After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: a Sickle Transplant Alliance for Research Trial