Q&A with Therese (Tess) Woodring, MD, assistant professor, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Transplant, and Cellular Therapy
Assistant Professor
Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa
Educational/professional background: I received my undergraduate education at Dartmouth College, with majors in biology and comparative literature, and earned my medical degree at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. I then completed residency in pediatrics and fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at the University of Wisconsin. My physician-scientist training was supported by the National Institutes of Health Medical Research Scholars Program, National Cancer Institute T32 in Cancer Biology, and the Pediatric Scientist Development Program.
Previous position (title, institution): Fellow, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Wisconsin
What is your field of research or area of clinical care, and how did you get into it? I was drawn to pediatric hematology/oncology because of the incredible relationships we get to develop with patients and families in our care. We travel the entire treatment journey together — whether meeting in outpatient clinic, navigating hospitalizations, rounding in intensive care unit, or just talking over the phone in between — and have the privilege to share moments of profound hardship as well as extraordinary cures. As a member of our bone marrow transplant group, I focus clinically on patients with blood and immune diseases that may be cured by replacing affected bone marrow stem cells with those from healthy donors.
The close integration of clinical care and research in our field means that every patient teaches us something new and helps shape better treatments for the children who follow. My research focuses on improving the diagnosis of inborn errors of immunity (IEIs), which are diverse genetic disorders that lead to immune dysfunction and deficiency. I first encountered patients with IEIs during a research year at the National Institutes of Health, where I saw how identifying the underlying genetic defect could both explain patients’ symptoms and guide targeted treatments. The experience set an early expectation that every patient with a suspected IEI deserved to have a molecular diagnosis or be actively pursuing one.
How would you describe your work to a 5-year-old? Sometimes kids get sick because the cells in their bodies don’t work well or behave badly. My job is to help find the problem and give people medicines that help them feel better, grow stronger, and do the things that make them happy.
What attracted you to UW–Madison? I came to Madison because its Pediatrics Residency Program offers outstanding clinical training. I stayed because I wanted to keep learning from the incredible people within the Division of Hematology, Oncology, Transplant, and Cellular Therapy, first as my faculty teachers and now as my colleagues. Madison blends the energy and resources of a major research university with the feel of a close-knit community, where my clinical work, research program, and family can all grow and thrive.
What is your favorite thing to do in Madison? I love exploring nature and the park systems in the area. One spot I find particularly beautiful is Indian Lake County Park, which contains a small stone chapel on a hill overlooking the lake. It was built in the 19th century as a sign of gratitude by a German immigrant whose family had survived a diphtheria epidemic. The chapel is such a testament to the fortitude of its builder — a parent who hauled its stones up the hill one-by-one — and inspiring to me as a parent and physician.
What’s one thing you hope trainees will learn from you and your work? I want trainees to take ownership of the care they provide, to find opportunities for joy and humor with families even while working on serious problems, to think critically, and (to paraphrase a role model) to never let being wrong today get in the way of being right tomorrow.
Do you feel your work relates to the Wisconsin Idea? If so, please describe how. The Wisconsin Idea holds that the benefits of the university should extend beyond campus and improve the lives of people throughout the state. Many of the patients I care for have rare conditions that can be difficult to recognize, and I am committed to making diagnostic expertise and genomic technologies accessible to children across Wisconsin.
What’s something interesting about your area of expertise you can share that will make us sound smarter during video chats and parties? While bone marrow transplantation is perhaps best known as a treatment for cancer, one of its earliest successes was actually curing a child born with a genetic immune disorder. In 1968, Fritz Bach and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin performed one of the first successful matched bone marrow transplants in a 22-month-old boy with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, demonstrating that replacing the immune system could cure an inherited immune disease.
What are some of your hobbies and other interests? I am a mom to five kids. When I am not at work, I am hanging out with them! And if they go to bed on time, I enjoy reading. My favorite books include The Magic Mountain (Thomas Mann), War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy), Kristin Lavransdatter (Sigrid Undset), and Brideshead Revisited (Evelyn Waugh).