AdventHealth for Children

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Setting a New Standard in 
Pediatric 
Cancer Care

We offer groundbreaking treatments for pediatric cancer and blood disorders right here in Florida.

A childhood cancer diagnosis is challenging enough without the added stress of having to travel far from home for treatment. We’re honored to offer parents leading-edge medical treatment and compassionate, family-focused care that’s conveniently close to home.

Here is what makes us unique:

  • We're one of the first hospitals in the nation to have a Pediatric Head and Neck program that focuses on treating children with head and neck conditions and cancers.
  • We’re the first hospital in Central Florida to have neuro-oncology and neurofibromatosis programs.
  • We’re recognized by Children’s Medical Services as one of the few centers able to treat sickle cell anemia and rare blood disorders, reducing travel burden on our families.
  • Our Pediatric Cellular Therapy program is the only one of its kind in Central Florida. We are accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), an internationally recognized accrediting body for hospitals offering stem cell transplant.
  • With the help of Walt Disney Imagineering and input from patients, families, and clinicians, our seven-story, technologically advanced facility features a child-centered healing environment.
  • We offer certified Child Life Specialists to assist you and your child through exams and treatment with fun and creative interventions and support customized for their developmental stage.

Get World-Class Care   Close to Home

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Take the Next Step in Your Child’s Care

Or call us at 855-836-5033.

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At AdventHealth for Children, our skilled pediatric oncologists and specialists are dedicated to putting cancer into remission and making families whole again. Learn more about our world-class doctors and hear firsthand from a family about their harrowing but hopeful cancer journey.

Showing Compassion and Instilling Hope

More Options That Cover More Ground

Our hospital is the heart of a children’s network that includes primary care pediatricians, specialty clinics, emergency departments, and kids’ urgent cares.

Across Central Florida, there are more than 300 dedicated pediatric beds, with 200 of them located at the children’s hospital in Orlando. Four dedicated ambulances and one helicopter provide emergency transfers. We’re staffed with a highly trained PICU and NICU transport team that supports regional hospitals within an 85-mile radius, including 13 adjacent AdventHealth locations.

And no matter which of our facilities you visit, you will receive the same special brand of care. We’re here to heal — body, mind and spirit.

At AdventHealth for Children, we have been nationally recognized for our leadership in advanced treatments, breakthrough research, and the compassionate care of children and their families.

We're on a Mission to Advance Pediatric Care

We’re here to empower you by taking a body, mind, and spirit approach to treating diabetes. We’ve developed unique programs and resources that target positive, lasting lifestyle changes to maximize your ability to control your diagnosis, such as our Dining With Diabetes program, a taste-and-learn class that includes access to videos and recipes for you to utilize at home. By incorporating fitness and behavioral counseling into your program, you’ll be strengthening your skills at managing diabetes yourself and living the life you want to live.

You Are Not Alone

Our team of medical experts is dedicated to ensuring you have the information and resources you need. This guide was created to help answer some of the questions you may have, such as:

  • What are the different types of cancer?
  • What are blood disorders?
  • How does AdventHealth for Children treat these conditions?
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The Greatest Care for Our Youngest Patients

At AdventHealth for Children, your child’s care will be handled by a highly skilled team of medical professionals with extensive experience in pediatric oncology and hematology. Our team has successfully treated a wide range of conditions, from leukemia and blood disorders to lymphoma and sickle cell anemia.

Our pediatric cellular therapy program is the only one of its kind in Central Florida and now offers CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell therapy for pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This groundbreaking, FDA-approved treatment now offers hope to children with leukemia that is difficult to treat. We collect the patient’s T cells, a type of white blood cell that is part of our immune system. These cells are then reprogrammed and given back to the child, allowing them to use their own immune system to destroy the cancer cells without radiation or harsh chemotherapy. We are excited to be the only program in Central Florida to offer this innovative, lifesaving treatment option for acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients under the age of 25 who have relapsed or refractory disease.  

There are many types of brain and spine tumors, both cancerous and benign. Our care team will work together to create an effective treatment plan, customized to your child. Treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, combined with counseling and support for your whole family.

CAR T-Cell Therapy

Brain and Spine Tumors

Our medical professionals are dedicated to treating and healing children who suffer from cancers like leukemia and blood disorders like sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, and many others. Our highly skilled teams will design the safest personalized treatment plan possible for your child. This plan may include chemotherapy, drug combinations, radiation, bone marrow transplant, or other therapies.

Leukemia and Other Blood Disorders

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in a child’s lymphatic tissues. It falls into two main categories: Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Our specialists use the latest chemotherapy and radiation treatments to tackle this form of cancer.

Neurofibromatosis

This condition causes tumors along the nerves and skin. At our neurofibromatosis clinic — the first and largest in the region — our experienced professionals use leading-edge equipment and therapies to treat this disorder. They are also at the forefront of the research and testing of promising new therapies.

When doctors suggested that eleven-month-old Grant be screened for cancer, he was transferred in the middle of the night to AdventHealth for Children. Within 24 hours, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Grant’s parents temporarily moved to Orlando while he received chemotherapy — but this family’s story was far from over. Learn more about their journey and how Grant’s new baby brother became a lifesaving part of Grant’s treatment.

Magnet® Recognition

For a second time, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has granted AdventHealth for Children Magnet recognition, which establishes the hospital as a national leader in nursing and patient care. Only 7% of the nation’s hospitals have received this recognition.

You Are 
Not Alone

Helping You Navigate Your Child's Care

Our children's health navigators are specially trained nurses who can guide you in every aspect of your child's care. As your family's advocates, your navigators can answer your questions, offer expert clinical assistance and support you emotionally and spiritually, too. Count on your health navigator for help with:

  • Answering your health care questions
  • Coordination of care among multiple providers and facilities 
  • Finding the right providers for your child
  • Scheduling annual office visits and screenings  

Our Pediatric Cellular Therapy Program is accredited by
FACT for meeting the most rigorous standards in every
aspect of stem cell therapy

Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy

Meet the Team

Our AdventHealth Medical Group oncology specialists deliver the latest cancer care innovations, using forward-thinking techniques and a personalized approach to care. Our team is here for you with convenient locations throughout Central Florida, close to home.

Dennis A. Borrero, MD

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Dennis Borrero Ramos, MD, FAAP, is board-certified and fellowship-trained in pediatric hematology and oncology with advanced expertise in pediatric bone marrow transplantation. He specializes in treating patients with chronic blood disorders as well as those who have experienced a stroke or been diagnosed with tumors or seizures. Dr. Borrero received his medical degree from Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Dr. Borrero is fluent in both English and Spanish and has the unique ability to connect with pediatric patients in a fun way that gets them involved with their own care.

Fouad M. Hajjar, MD

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Fouad Hajjar, MD, is board-certified in pediatric hematology and oncology. He has over 20 years of experience, including serving as the Medical Director of the Children's Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases at the AdventHealth Cancer Institute. He received his medical degree from St. Joseph's University Medical School in Beirut, Lebanon. He completed his residency at Buffalo Children's Hospital in New York, followed by his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at Yale. 2017 Patient Experience, Top Performer, ranked in the 99th percentile nationally. Dr. Hajjar is fluent in Arabic, English, and French.

Matthew Henderson, DO

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Matthew Henderson, DO, is a board-certified physician with advanced fellowship training in pediatric hematology and oncology. Dr. Henderson specializes in leukemia/lymphoma, pediatric solid tumors, pediatric brain tumors, bleeding disorders, and pediatric hematology, including sickle cell disease, and enjoys working with adolescent and young adult patients to address their oncologic needs. He is fluent in English with basic language skills in Spanish.

Susan Kelly, MD

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Susan Kelly, MD, is an award-winning pediatric hematologist and oncologist who has been recognized with multiple national awards and research grants for her groundbreaking clinical research and outstanding patient care. Dr. Kelly specializes in cellular therapy, including blood and marrow transplantations and CAR-T cellular therapy.

Joseph Lopez, MD

Pediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pediatric Head and Neck Surgery

Dr. Lopez is the Chief of Pediatric Head and Neck Surgery at AdventHealth for Children and the first dual fellowship-trained head and neck surgeon and pediatric craniofacial surgeon in the United States. He is passionate about caring for children with craniofacial conditions and head and neck tumors, dedicating all his expertise to helping them reach their full potential. Utilizing cross-disciplinary techniques and technology, Dr. Lopez uses his unique training and background to provide exceptional care for children of all ages. .

Brian Tullius, MD

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Brian Tullius, MD, is a board-certified physician who specializes in cellular therapies, cancer immunotherapy, innate immunity and stem cell transplantation. Dr. Tullius completed flight surgeon training at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, FL, and his pediatric hematology/oncology and cellular therapy fellowships at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Tullius has a U.S. Patent on a cellular therapy for treating microbial infections and a patent-pending for an innovative website he helped design to improve access to and awareness of clinical trials.
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AdventHealth for Children has been awarded the Top Children's Hospital award by The Leapfrog Group as one of the safest children’s hospitals in the nation. Only 12 children’s hospitals earned this recognition from America’s premier advocate for hospital transparency.

Top 5% in the Nation for Patient Safety

Pediatric Head and Neck Tumors

Head and neck tumors can grow in your glands, mouth, nose, sinuses, throat and voice box. These tumors can be either cancerous or benign. As one of the few hospitals in the nation with a dedicated Head and Neck program, our care team is committed to work with you to find the most effective treatment plan for your child’s needs.