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Cleveland Clinic

Contact Information: 

Richa Sharma 

[email protected]

 

Informational website: 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/

 

Specialists available at center: 

Hematologist and/or Oncologist Information:

  • Richa Sharma: I have cared for patients with bone marrow failure and TBD since my fellowship training at St Jude which started in 2018. I have focused on caring for TBD patients since 2021 as an instructor in Department of Hematology at St Jude. I discovered RPA1 as a TBD gene and established MDM4 as a bone marrow failure and potentially TBD gene. Since starting at Cleveland Clinic (CC) in January 2025, I have taken on caring for pediatric and adult patietns with TBD and have connected patients to adult sub-specialties when appropriate. I have started a National DNA Repair and Telomere Biology Disorder Tumor Board at Cleveland clinic this year, which spans institutions and sub-specialities. I continue to see pediatric and adult patients with BMF, TBD and DNA repair disorders in my weekly clinic at CC. Importantly, my lab works on telomere biology maintenance mechanisms in TBD and cancer. I have attended several telomere related conferences including EMBO and CSHL telomere meetings, Team telomere meetings and presented my work at ASH. I also have collaborations with other telomere biologists and investigators who work on TBD.
  • Jarslow Maciejewski: Dr. Maciejewski has experience in genotype:leukemia correlation, CH in patients with TBD mutations, collaborations with other TBD experts.
  • Hetty Carraway: Dr. Carraway sees patients with MDS/AML and TBD, very active in care pathways for patients with TBD and MDS/AML.
  • Seth Corey: Dr. Corey has over 20 years of experience seeing patients with BMF and TBD.

 

Bone Marrow Transplant Physician Information:

  • Rabi Hanna: Dr. Hanna is the director of pediatric hem/onc/BMT division and head of BMT; robust experience in transplanting patients with BMF, TBD and sickle cell disease.
  • Seth Rotz: Dr. Rotz is a BMT and leukemia physician; key role in the Cleveland Clinic National DNA repair and Telomere Biology Disorder tumor board.
  • Claudio Brunstein: Dr. Brunstein is an adult BMT physician who has experience in transplanting benign hematologic diseases and is leading the start of continuity clinic for all inherited BMF disorders, including TBD across the pediatric and adult ages.

 

Pulmonologist and/or Lung Transplant Physician Information:

  • Marie Budev: Dr. Budev is the medical Director of one of the largest lung transplant and heart-lung transplant programs in the country at CCF with expertise in post transplant care in patients with TBD; She also gave a talk at the 2025 Micro Meeting at Mayo Clinic.
  • Brian Southern: Dr. Southern is a pulmonologist who sees all TBD patients at CCF with pulmonary fibrosis, started pulmonary telomere monthly clinic at CCF this year.

 

Hepatologist and/or Liver Transplant Physician Information:

  • Dian Chiang: Dr. Chiang has 15 years of experience in hepatology and is the contact person for management of adult TBD patients, works closely with liver transplant physician Dr. Koji Hashimoto.
  • Kadakkal Radhakrishnan: Dr. Radhakrishnan is a pediatric gastroenterologist and hepatologist who has been involved in the care of pediatric patients with TBD and hepatic/GI manifestations at CC.

 

Gastroenterologist Information:

  • Florian Rieder: Dr. Rieder is an adult gastroenterologist, physician scientist and expert in inflammatory bowel disease with an interest in TBD features that are akin to IBD. He has helped evaluate esophageal motility issues in TBD patients.
  • Kadakkal Radhakrishnan: Dr. Radhakrishnan is a pediatric gastroenterologist and hepatologist who has been involved in the care of pediatric patients with TBD and hepatic/GI manifestations at CC.

 

Dermatologist Information:

  • Joan Tamburro: Dr. Tamburro is a pediatric dermatologist with knowledge and experience in TBD skin manifestations.
  • Gowri Kabbur: Dr. Kabbur is an adult and pediatric dermatologist with interest in TBD.

 

Otolaryngologist and/or Oral Medicine specialist Information:

  • Eric Lamarre: Dr. Lamarre is the section head of head and neck cancer at CC, point of contact for TBD patients with ENT cancers and surveillance.
  • Natalie Silver: Dr. Silver is a head and neck oncology surgeon, active member for the DNA repair and TBD tumor board and has helped manage difficult ENT SCC case presented by NCI.

 

Genetic Counselor Information:

  • Brittany Stewart and Holly Greer: Both Brittany and Holly are GC at CCF who work closely with adult and pediatric hematology/oncology/pulmonology to provide genetic counseling to patients and families with TBD. Both have also attended several Team Telomere meetings.
  • Cancer Genetics Staff

 

Social Worker Information:

  • Brittany Sustin and other social workers: Incredibly talented and resourceful social worker at CC who will be helping with the needs of families and patients with TBD.

 

Additional specialists at center:

 

  • John McDonnell: Pediatric immunologist who has helped with several TBD related cases in pediatric and adults seen by me. Interest in rare disorders.
  • Andrea Mucci: Pediatric endocrinologist and point contact for TBD-associated endocrine dysfunction in patients with TBD.
  • Chad Michener: Point of contact for all gyn onc concerns in rare diseases and will be the point of contact for TBD patients.
  • Elias Traboulsi: Point of contact for ophthalmological problems.

 

Monitoring modalities and treatments available at center: 

  • Blood tests (including CBC, liver function tests, etc.)
  • Bone marrow biopsy
  • Lung function testing
  • CT / MRI / ultrasound
  • DXA scan
  • Contrast echocardiography
  • Endoscopy
  • Nasolaryngoscopy
  • Esophagogram
  • Hematopoietic cell transplantation
  • Lung Transplantation
  • Liver Transplantation
  • Interventional Radiology
  • Eye and Retinal Exam
  • Laser photocoagulation
  • Vitreoretinal surgery
  • Dental assessments