St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Appoints New Chief of Section of Hematology

Norma Lerner, M.D., MPH, has been named chief of the Section of Hematology and Calvin Bland Endowed Chair in Hematology and Sickle Cell Anemia at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

Dr. Lerner specializes in pediatric hematology and oncologic disorders. Her areas of special expertise include sickle cell disease and clotting. Her clinical research investigations have included studies of sickle cell disease-associated cerebrovascular damage, aspirin prophylaxis, thrombosis in the intensive care setting, and newborn screening for hemoglobinopathies. She is a National Institute of Health (NIH)-funded investigator.

Dr. Lerner comes to St. Christopher’s from the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York where she was a professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She served as the director of the Pediatric Hemoglobinopathy Service and the Pediatric Vascular Hematology Center. She also served as medical director of the Hemoglobinopathy Genetics Service for nine county areas of upstate New York.

“Dr. Lerner has an excellent reputation within the pediatric hematology community. Her expertise and leadership, especially with sickle cell disease will continue our long tradition of excellence in managing this disease," says Bernadette Mangan, chief executive officer.

“We are confident that Dr. Lerner will guide the Section of Hematology to continue providing excellence in clinical care; an excellent educational experience for the medical students, residents and Fellows; and grow its clinical research portfolio," says Daniel V. Schidlow, M.D., physician-in-chief, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

Dr. Lerner received her medical degree from Brown University and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Rochester. She completed her pediatric internship and residency at Boston City Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. She completed pediatric hematology/oncology fellowships at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Dr. Lerner is board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric hematology/oncology. She is the author of many peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters, and has served on NIH study sections. Dr. Lerner is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and serves as reviewer for several medical journals including the Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and the Journal of Pediatrics.

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