Pediatric Survivorship Programs

When you visit the David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic, your health care team will compile a list of treatments you had as a cancer patient and then work with you to review the possible long-term side effects of those treatments. Our experts will help you learn how to care for yourself to help minimize the risk of future complications.

After your clinic visit, you'll get a summary of recommendations that can serve as a useful guide to you and your primary care doctor. These may include tests and screenings that are recommended based on your particular cancer diagnosis and treatment regimen. This after-care summary will provide you with a guide for making healthy choices and improving your quality of life.

Depending on your cancer diagnosis and treatment, you may also benefit from our programs and expertise in:

• Cancer genetic risk counseling
• Cardiovascular (heart) health
• Counseling for psychological or emotional difficulties
• Developmental or learning challenges
• Fertility
• Nutrition
• Pediatric and adult endocrinology
• Physical activity and fitness
• Support groups with other survivors of childhood cancers

The David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic is at the forefront of survivorship research, gathering important data on the long-term effects of childhood cancer treatment. We direct or participate in numerous local and national programs designed to improve care and knowledge for cancer survivors.

Our researchers are helping develop more effective treatments, while at the same time finding ways to combat the long-term side effects of cancer treatment. This is part of our overall effort to provide the best possible quality of life for all cancer patients — past, present, and future.

When you visit our clinic, you may be eligible to participate in specific research studies, depending on your diagnosis and treatment. You can ask about such opportunities when you visit.

Our physicians, nurse practitioners, researchers, and psychologists are experts in survivorship and will work with you and your primary care provider to create a long-term care plan.

Lisa Diller, MD
Director, David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic
A pediatric oncologist and researcher, Dr. Diller focuses on the late effects of treatment for childhood cancer and genetic cancer predisposition syndromes in childhood.

Lynda M. Vrooman, MD, MSc
Medical Director, David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic
Dr. Vrooman is a pediatric oncologist and clinical researcher who focuses on the acute and long-term toxicities of treatment for childhood cancer.

Lisa B. Kenney, MD, MPH
Senior Physician, David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic
A pediatric oncologist and researcher in childhood cancer survivorship, Dr. Kenney focuses on medical complications after treatment for childhood cancer.

Larissa Nekhlyudov, MD, MPH
Clinical Director, Internal Medicine for Cancer Survivors, David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic
An internist and cancer researcher, Dr. Nekhlyudov has expertise in the care of adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Katie Greenzang, MD, EdM
Attending Physician
Dr. Greenzang is a pediatric oncologist who focuses on the short and long-term side effects of treatments for childhood solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.

Eileen Duffey-Lind, RN, MSN, CPNP
Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner, David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic
Eileen Duffey-Lind is a Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner who cares for childhood cancer survivors. In addition, her clinical interests include care after treatment for solid tumors, the transition off active therapy, and HPV/cervical cancer prevention.

Jill Brace O’Neill, PPCNP-BC
Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner, David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic
Jill Brace O’Neill is a Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner who specializes in caring for childhood cancer survivors. Her clinical interests include treatment across the spectrum of rare solid tumors in children, diagnosis and surveillance of genetic predisposition to cancer syndromes, and efforts to expand knowledge and expertise of pediatric oncology internationally.

Katelin Heltz, FNP-C
Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner, David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic
Katelin Heltz is a Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner who specializes in the care of childhood cancer survivors. Her interests include pediatric hematology/oncology, sickle cell disease, and chronic transfusion therapy.

Courtney Sandler, MD, MPH
Endocrinologist
Dr. Sandler is a pediatric and adult endocrinologist who specializes in endocrinopathies late-effects associated with childhood cancer.

Christopher J. Recklitis, PhD, MPH
Director of Research and Support Services for the Perini Family Survivors’ Center
Dr. Recklitis is a clinical psychologist who provides behavioral health counseling to patients and families in the David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic. His research focuses on understanding the psychological late-effects of cancer and the best methods for encouraging healthy behaviors in cancer survivors.

Autumn Zaborsky, Program Manager

Maxwell Yanover, Clinic Coordinator

Chelsea Khuu, Clinic Coordinator

To make an appointment at the David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic, please call the clinic facilitator at 617-632-5124 or email perini_clinic@dfci.harvard.edu.

To inquire about conferences, educational programs, support groups, or other administrative matters, please call 1-800-883-6012.

To make an appointment in the pediatric survivorship clinic, you will need to have been off treatment for at least two years and been diagnosed with cancer at age 21 or younger.

If you were diagnosed at age 22 or older, it may be more appropriate for you to be seen in Dana-Farber's Adult Survivorship Program.

You do not need to have been treated at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's in order to be seen in either the adult or pediatric survivorship clinic.

What if I am an adult, but was diagnosed with cancer as a teen or child?

Depending on your age, diagnosis, and treatment, it may be more appropriate for you to be seen in Dana-Farber's Adult Survivorship Program. To learn what might be best for you, call our clinic facilitator at 1-617-632-5124.

How can I make an appointment?

To make an appointment at the David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic, please contact the clinic facilitator at 1-617-632-5124 or email perini_clinic@dfci.harvard.edu.

What services does the pediatric survivorship clinic offer?

The David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic gives you access to experts in the long-term care of cancer survivors. Through the clinic, you can see specialists in radiation oncology, gynecology, endocrinology, and more. After your appointment, we will give you a set of recommendations for your follow-up care, which we also send to your primary care physician.

When should I come to the pediatric survivorship clinic?

You are welcome to visit the pediatric survivorship clinic at any time, as long as you've been off treatment for at least two years. People often come at times of transition in their lives, such as when they get married, start a family, or begin a new job.

What if I already have a doctor?

Even if you already have a primary care physician, you can still benefit from the clinic's services. A visit to the clinic can help you find health care providers who can address your needs, as well as the needs of your family. We recommend that survivors of childhood cancer meet regularly with an oncologist or oncology nurse practitioner who understands their medical history and long-term needs. For some patients, we may recommend an annual visit. For others, we may recommend visiting less frequently.

How did the clinic start?

David and Eileen Perini founded the clinic to honor the memory of their son and provide a resource for survivors of pediatric cancers. David B. Perini Jr. was a young man who, despite his personal battle with cancer, lived a vibrant life devoted to improving the quality of life for others.