Faculty Directory

Biography

Dr. Grossman's clinical activities are dedicated to the inpatient management of pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant patients.

As a health services researcher, she focuses on improving supportive care for pediatric hematology/oncology patients, patient safety, and quality improvement in the delivery of healthcare. In the context of her clinical work, she identifies opportunities where change would benefit any aspect of the healthcare delivery system – from the patient level to the system level on both the local and national scale. She addresses challenging clinical problems by developing innovative technologies in collaboration with colleagues at GA Tech, the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center at GA Tech, the Global Center for Medical Innovation, as well as with engineers at NASA, The US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Chemical Biological Center, and others in the industry. She uses QI methodology and implementation science strategies in addition to traditional research strategies to rapidly deploy technologies or changes in clinical practice to quickly address critical clinical issues.

Research

Grant-funded research activities are related to the prevention of central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) in pediatric hematology/oncology patients. These projects include the co-invention of a medical device, for which the team has a provisional patent, and the development of a predictive model for CLABSI using Big Data analytics with partners at GA Tech. Additional primary research activities and sponsored research funding are related to device innovation and development around personal protective equipment (PPE), in collaboration with government and industry leaders, in order to address the critical shortage of PPE in the United States of America during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing research is related to ensuring a sustainable domestic supply chain and mass-manufacturing capacity for essential medical supplies.  

Her system-wide QI projects have included: 1) evidence-based guidelines to change local clinical practice related to obtaining blood cultures in pediatric hematology/oncology patients in order to reduce unnecessary costs and unnecessary exposure to antibiotics (Abstract recognized as top 10 and featured on the Poster Tour at ASPHO Conference, 2018), and 2) evidence-based clinical practice guideline change to the management of pediatric patients with sickle cell disease and fever or acute chest syndrome in response to critical patient safety events. 

Areas of Interest

Patient safety, quality improvement, and implementation science
Medical technology innovation
Healthcare policy reform
Supportive care of pediatric hematology/oncology patients
Infectious complications in pediatric hematology/oncology patients

Education

• Bachelor of Arts: Neuroscience, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, 2000-2004
• Doctor of Medicine: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 2004-2008
• Master of Science in Clinical Research: Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 2012-2014

Training

• Internship and Residency: Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH, 2008-2011
• Fellowship: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, 2011-2014  
• Clinical Fellowship: Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, 2016-2017

Certifications

• Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, American Board of Pediatrics
• Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics

Honors and Awards

• Phi Beta Kappa, Chapter of Skidmore College, 2004
• Alpha Omega Alpha, Chapter of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2008
• Alice Paige Cleveland Prize: for a woman in the School of Medicine graduating class who shows outstanding leadership skills, 2008
• NIH/Atlanta Clinical and Translational Science Institute (ACTSI) - Tuition Scholarship for Master of Science in Clinical Research, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, 2012-2014

Research Center(s)

• Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center (Aflac) →