Amy E. DeZern, MD, MHS

Dr. Amy DeZern is a hematologist hematologist: (hee-muh-TOL-uh-jist) A doctor who specializes in treating blood diseases and disorders of blood producing organs. and medical oncologist oncologist: (on-KAH-luh-jist) A doctor who specializes in the treatment and prevention of cancer. at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and is an Assistant Professor of Oncology and Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She received her medical degree in 2005 from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and her Master in Clinical Investigation (M.H.S.) from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She completed residency training in internal medicine as well as fellowships in medical oncology and hematology at Johns Hopkins.  Dr. DeZern sees patients at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. DeZern’s primary clinical and research interests are focused on bone marrow failure bone marrow failure: A condition that occurs when the bone marrow stops making enough healthy blood cells. The most common of these rare diseases are aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Bone marrow failure can be acquired (begin any time in life) or can be… disorders.  She has expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes myelodysplastic syndromes: (my-eh-lo-diss-PLASS-tik SIN-dromez) A group of disorders where the bone marrow does not work well, and the bone marrow cells fail to make enough healthy blood cells. Myelo refers to the bone marrow. Dysplastic means abnormal growth or development. People with MDS have low blood cell count for at… (MDS), aplastic anemia aplastic anemia: (ay-PLASS-tik uh-NEE_mee-uh) A rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells - red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The term aplastic is a Greek word meaning not to form. Anemia is a condition that happens when red blood cell count is low. Most… - both inherited and acquired, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: (par-uk-SIZ-muhl nok-TURN-uhl hee-muh-gloe-buh-NYOOR-ee-uh) A rare and serious blood disease that causes red blood cells to break apart. Paroxysmal means sudden and irregular. Nocturnal means at night. Hemoglobinuria means hemoglobin in the urine. Hemoglobin is the red part of red blood cells. A… (PNH), and acute leukemias.  She sees clinic patients weekly with these diagnoses as well as patients in need of bone marrow bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue inside most bones. Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. transplants.  Dr. DeZern greatly enjoys taking care of patients with bone marrow failure and hematologic malignancies and is dedicated to improving the care and outcomes of patients with these conditions.  To that end, she is an active clinical researcher who specializes in clinical studies of diagnostics and maintains a database of samples and clinical information for outcomes research in marrow failure and leukemia. She is the principal investigator of a number of clinical protocols for patients with MDS as well as a unique clinical trial clinical trial: A type of research study that tests how a drug, medical device, or treatment approach works in people. There are several types of clinical trials. Treatment trials test new treatment options. Diagnostic trials test new ways to diagnose a disease. Screening trials test the best way to detect a… treating patients with severe aplastic anemia using a specialized bone marrow transplant bone marrow transplant: A bone marrow transplant (BMT) is also called a stem cell transplant (SCT) or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).The procedure replaces unhealthy blood-forming stem cells with healthy ones and offers some patients the possibility of a cure. But for many patients, a BMT is not an option due… regimen at Johns Hopkins.  Her work has resulted in multiple publications in the scientific literature and presentations at national meetings.  She is also involved with the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation and serves as one of the six principal investigators for the Edward P. Evans MDS Clinical Research Clinical Research: A type of research that involves individual persons or a group of people. There are three types of clinical research. Patient-oriented research includes clinical trials which test how a drug, medical device, or treatment approach works in people. Epidemiology or behavioral studies look at the… Consortium.