Russell Adam Brandwein, PA

Maria Garzon, M.D. is Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) and the Director of the Division of Pediatric Dermatology at NYP Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. With a significant body of published research, leadership and teaching experience, Dr. Garzon is an internationally recognized leader in pediatric dermatology. She is a leading expert on the care of children and adolescents with vascular anomalies, particularly hemangiomas and vascular malformations. Dr. Garzon is the Founder and Co-Director of the NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center (NYP/CUIMC) Interdisciplinary Vascular Anomalies Group, a founding member and past President of the Hemangioma Investigator Group (HIG) and a founding member of the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA). She is a past President of both the Society for Pediatric Dermatology and the New York Dermatological Society. She was elected to the Academy of Clinical Excellence (ACE) at VP&S and named a Samberg Scholar at NYP Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. Dr. Garzon has authored numerous articles and book chapters and has lectured at many national and international meetings including the American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatric Academic Societies, World Congress of Pediatric Dermatology, National Institute of Health and International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies. Dr. Garzon has been named a top doctor by Castle Connolly, Best Doctors and New York Magazine. Dr. Garzon received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons where she was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She completed her Pediatric residency at the former Babies Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center (now New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital) and dermatology residency at NYP Columbia University Medical Center. She was a fellow in pediatric dermatology at Children’s Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology, American Dermatologic Association, Hemangioma Investigator Group, International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies, Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Women’s Dermatologic Society.

Dr. Amengual is the Herbert Irving Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, Center for Lymphoid Malignancies, and Hebert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center here at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Amengual obtained a degree in Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University where she graduated with honors. She attained her Medical Doctorate from New York Medical College, followed by a residency in Internal Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Amengual then went on to complete her fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the NYU Langone Medical Center, where she participated in the Physician-Scientist Training Program and graduated as a Dean’s Scholar. She is the recipient of several awards and scholarships for her research, including the Irving Scholarship, the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research and as a Scholar of the Amos Medical Faculty Development Award –Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the American Society of Hematology. She was also selected to participate in the prestigious American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)/American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Vail Workshop Methods in Clinical Cancer Research, the European Hematology Association/American Society of Hematology Translational Research Training Program and the South West Oncology Group (SWOG) Leadership Academy. These competitive programs select the most promising faculty for enriched development and have laid the foundation for her research. She has now served on the faculty or review committee of several of these programs. As an R01-funded physician-scientist, Dr. Amengual is focused on translating the latest scientific discoveries regarding cancer cell behavior into novel treatment platforms. She aims to translate observations and concepts developed in the laboratory directly into patient care. Specifically, she is focused on combination epigenetic targeting for both B-cell and T-cell lymphomas. She continues to develop new pharmacologic strategies directed at altering these diseases at their genetic roots, now collaborating with investigators from backgrounds of diverse scientific expertise. Dr. Amengual has been studying the effects HDAC inhibitors in combination with EZH2 inhibitors to capitalize on two common mutations driving growth of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells. In addition, she has studied targeting the BCL6:p53 pathway in order to shift the balance of oncogene and tumor suppressor function using novel therapeutic approaches. For T-cell lymphoma Dr. Amengual has led a clinical trial combining HDAC inhibitors with the novel antifolate drug, pralatrexate. The pralatrexate plus romidepsin combination has led to dramatic responses in patients with relapsed T-cell lymphoma and will serve as the basis of more trials to come aimed at improving outcomes with patients with these diseases. Building on these discoveries, Dr. Amengual is now evaluating the interplay of epigenetics with immune surveillance and endogenous retroviral expression in the setting of lymphoma. Dr. Amengual has lectured at academic institutions and conferences around the world, and at forums such as the Lymphoma Research Foundation and the American Hematology Society’s Highlights of ASH. She has published numerous chapters and peer reviewed articles on the biology and treatment of lymphoma, and serves as a Scientific Reviewer for a number of journals in the field, including Journal of Clinical Oncology and as an Editorial Board Member of Clinical Cancer Research. She has sat on grant review and abstract review committees for meetings such as the American Society of Hematology where she has also chaired sessions, American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. She is actively involved in the NCI’s National Clinical Trial Network, SWOG, as a Lymphoma Working Group Committee Member. Dr. Amengual is involved in numerous clinical trials for lymphoma, enabling our patients to access the best opportunities for the treatment of their disease. Dr. Amengual has clinical expertise in lymphoma, HIV- and EBV-related hematologic illnesses.

Philippe Lemaitre, MD, PhD, is a thoracic surgeon specializing in lung transplantation and ECMO procedures. Dr. Lemaitre is known for his patient-centered care and collaborative approach to surgical practice. After receiving his medical degree from the Free University of Brussels, Dr. Lemaitre underwent residency and graduated PhD in transplant immunology before becoming an attending surgeon at the Erasme Hospital in Brussels, Belgium. He thereafter completed several advanced specialty fellowships at the Toronto General Hospital in Canada. At Columbia, Dr. Lemaitre primarily focuses on the surgical aspects of lung failure that are lung transplantation and ECMO surgeries. He is part of the Surgical Emphysema Program and the surgical director of the Lung Transplantation Program. Skilled in collaborative care, Dr. Lemaitre’s practice emphasizes a multi-specialty approach to thoracic conditions.