2014 Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellows

Serine Avagyan, MD, PhD

Serine Avagyan, MD, PhD

Residency: Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian of Columbia University Medical Center
Career Interests: Serine is interested in hematopoiesis/stem cell biology.

Serine received her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology from University of Washington. She continued her medical education at Mount Sinai School of Medicine where she also received her PhD. Serine’s PhD research focused on quantitative genetics of hematopoietic stem cells in Hans-Willem Snoeck’s Laboratory at the Columbia Center for Translational Immunology. Serine received her residency training at Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian of Columbia University Medical Center.

Neekesh Dharia, MD, PhD

Neekesh Dharia, MD, PhD

Residency: UCLA Medical Center
Career Interests: Neekesh is interested in continuing his research in the malaria field and studying pediatric cancers using genomic and computational approaches.

Neekesh received his undergraduate degree with Highest Distinction (equivalent to summa cum laude) in Biochemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Asian Studies from University of Iowa. He continued his education at The Scripps Research Institute where he received his PhD. Neekesh received his medical education from University of California San Diego School of Medicine. He also completed his residency training at UCLA Medical Center.

Mariella Filbin, MD, PhD

Mariella Filbin, MD, PhD

Residency: Boston Combined Residency Program
Medical School: Medizinische Universitat Graz
Career Interests: Mariella is interested in pediatric neuro-oncology research and clinical care.

Mariella Gruber-Olipitz, MD, PhD: Mariella received her medical education from the Medical University of Graz in Austria. In 2004, she received the highest distinction in Austria, awarded by the president of Austria and again in 2006 at the University of Vienna for her PhD. She worked closely with Dr. Rosalind Segal at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for her post-doctoral research project through a prestigious three-year fellowship from the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Mariella completed 3 years of a combined pediatric residency/fellowship in Vienna and served as chief fellow 2007-2008. She came to Boston to join the Boston Combined Residency in Pediatrics in 2011.

Lillian (Lily) Guenther MD

Lillian (Lily) Guenther MD

Residency: Boston Combined Residency Program
Career Interests: Lily is interested in molecular defects in sarcomas.

Lily received her undergraduate degree in History from Brown University. She continued her education at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine. She received The Ilana W. Zarafu Robbins, MD Award for Outstanding Performance in Pediatrics. During medical school, Lily and a group of SUNY Downstate students founded a free clinic in the borough of Brooklyn. Lily came to Boston to join the Boston Combined Residency Program.

Nmazuo (Maz) Ozuah, MBBS

Nmazuo (Maz) Ozuah, MBBS

Residency: Boston Combined Residency Program
Career Interests: Maz ultimately wants to build a career in global medicine and to help develop the field of hematology/oncology in Nigeria.

Maz received his medical education at Abia State University. He received numerous awards during his medical education, including Distinction in Anatomy and Biochemistry, Best Medical Student in Physiology, Best Medical Student in Pediatrics, Best Medical Student in Community Medicine, and Best Graduating Medical Doctor. Maz completed two years of residency in Nigeria before joining the Boston Combined Residency Program in 2011.

Maxim (Max) Pimkin, MD, PhD

Maxim (Max) Pimkin, MD, PhD

Residency: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Career Interests: Max is interested in chromatin as a therapeutic target in oncology.

Max received his medical degree from Smolensk State Medical Academy where he graduated with Honors (equivalent of Magna Cum Laude). He pursued his PhD at Smolensk State Medical Academy and performed research studies at the Fox Chase Cancer Center Philadelphia, PA. Prior to his residency, Max worked in Mitchell Weiss’ lab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where he focused on global transcriptional control of erythro-megakaryopoiesis, and was part of the ENCODE consortium. Max received his pediatrics residency training at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

Grant Rowe, MD, PhD

Grant Rowe, MD, PhD

Residency: Boston Combined Residency Program
Career Interests: Grant is interested in oncology research.

Grant received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Denison University in Ohio. He continued his education at University of Michigan Medical School where he received his MD/PhD and graduated with Distinction in Research. He also received the George DeMuth Physician Research Scientist Award in the Medical Scientist Training Program. Grant completed his pediatric training in the Boston Combined Residency Program. He worked on an osteosarcoma related research project with Katie Janeway during his residency training. Grant is currently working in George Daley's lab on the roles of microRNAs and their binding proteins in developmental hematopoiesis using genetically modified mouse models.