Improving Health Outcomes and Access to Care

Ensuring that all patients and families have fair access to care and opportunities to thrive.

Investigators

Anurekha Hall, MD, MS

Assistant Professor

Bio: Dr. Hall is a pediatric oncologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She grew up in the Bay Area, received her undergraduate degree in biology from Northwestern University and then moved to Phoenix to teach second grade for two years through Teach for America. She received her medical degree from the University of Toledo College of Medicine, completed her pediatrics residency at Stanford University and moved to Seattle to complete her pediatric hematology oncology fellowship. Dr. Hall is a pediatric oncologist in the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and the quality medical director of the Immune Effector Cell Program. She primarily cares for children being treated for leukemia or lymphoma and for children receiving chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapies. Her research focuses on barriers in pediatric oncology, with a particular interest in variations in access to, and outcomes in, advanced therapies that are only offered at limited sites, such as CAR-T cells and phase 1 clinical trials.

Research interests: Improving healthcare experiences and outcomes, specifically in access to advanced treatment modalities only offered at limited sites

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Kristine Karvonen, MD, MS

Assistant Professor

Bio: Dr. Kristine Karvonen is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist and investigator with a research focus on social drivers of racial and ethnic inequities. Dr. Karvonen plans to deploy community-engaged interventions toreduce variations in health outcomes across historically marginalized communities. Dr. Karvonen received her medical degree at the University of Virginia and completed a pediatrics residency, pediatric hematology and oncology fellowship, child health equity fellowship, and master of science degree in epidemiology at the University of Washington. She is an attending physician in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders with a focus in oncology and sickle cell disease.

Research interests: Reducing variations in health outcomes and access across communities, pediatric oncology

Melissa Martos, MD

Clinical Fellow

Bio: Dr. Martos is a pediatric oncology fellow, as well as a Health Services and Quality of Care research fellow. She is investigating gaps in oncology communication based on patient language of care. She ultimately aims to partner with families to research interventions that improve quality of communication, including for those that prefer a language other than English. Dr. Martos studied environmental science at UC Berkeley prior to earning her medical degree at UC San Francisco. She then completed pediatrics residency at the University of Washington/Seattle Children's Hospital and has continued on for fellowship. Her prior work includes improving healthcare experiences and outcomes for all patients and families.

Research interests: Communication, language, quality improvement

Tim Ohlsen, MD, MS

Assistant Professor

Bio: Dr. Ohlsen is a pediatric oncologist and researcher interested in examining and alleviating financial toxicity — the financial challenges that patients and families face as a result of their cancer. He also conducts research related to the impact of geography on patient outcomes, comparative effectiveness and the prevention of late effects of treatment. Dr. Ohlsen earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine before completing a residency in pediatrics at the University of Utah. He then completed fellowship training in pediatric hematology/oncology at the University of Washington/Seattle Children's Hospital, including research training through the Health Services and Quality of Care integrated fellowship. Clinically, he cares for children with cancer and blood disorders with a focus on solid tumors.

Research interests: Financial toxicity, area-based measures, patient-reported outcomes, prevention of late effects

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