Abstract

<P>Anemia is the most common hematologic problem encountered in pediatric practice and constitutes the most common reason for referral to pediatric hematologists. It is estimated that 30% of children suffer from anemia. The evaluation of the child with anemia presents a challenging task for pediatric healthcare providers and poses difficult questions. In addition to providing appropriate screening, surveillance, and diagnosis, offering optimal state-of-the art treatment and prevention are priorities in any pediatric primary care facility. Although the role of pediatric hematologists is pivotal, the pediatric healthcare provider is on the frontline of patient care and faces the many challenges involved in diagnosing the various types of anemia. Facing these challenges is possible only through knowledge of both basic science and clinical care and can be very rewarding.</P><h4>ABOUT THE GUEST EDITOR</h4><P>Adlette Inati, MD, is the Head of the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and the Medical Director of the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon. She is a Consultant Hematologist at the Chronic Care Center (a comprehensive hemoglobinopathy center) and a Research Associate at Balamand University, Lebanon. In addition, she is the Clinical Scientific Director of the Italian-Lebanese International Cooperation in the Fields of Health and Medical Sciences.</P><P>Dr. Inati received her bachelor and medical degrees from the American University of Beirut and had her first-year residency in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University. She completed her pediatric residency and her fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at Boston Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Sidney Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School. She is American-Board certified and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.</P><P>Dr. Inati has contributed significantly to clinical scientific research and patient care delivery in her field. Her major fields of interest are sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and bleeding disorders. She has published extensively in international journals and has been an invited speaker in national and international scientific meetings. Dr. Inati has been involved in multiple global and national trials on sickle cell disease and thalassemia. She is on the steering committees of several hemoglobin and bleeding disorders international studies. She runs the largest sickle cell disease clinic in Lebanon and has published the first two large-scale national reports about sickle cell disease in Lebanon. She has shown leadership in initiating the first Middle East Thought Leaders and Investigators Sickle Cell Disease Scientific Meeting, which promoted partnership in science and dissemination of knowledge both to physicians and the community. Currently, she directs the Pediatric Hematology Oncology teaching and training program for medical students and residents from various disciplines at Rafik Hariri University Hospital.</P><P>Dr. Inati is a member of several international scientific and medical societies. She is also a member of the Lebanese National Cancer Control Program, of the Institutional Review Board, and the Board of Trustees of the Chronic Care Center. She has been active in health policy and in addressing important child healthcare issues particularly related to blood disorders, cancer, life quality issues, and violence against children.</P><P>She has been recognized for the promotion of medical growth in her country and officially represented Lebanon at several global scientific meetings. She received two silver medals from the First Lady of Lebanon in recognition of her commitment to the control of inherited hemoglobin disorders in Lebanon.</P>

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call