Q&A with Christina Amend, MD, assistant professor, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant
Hometown: Spring Gove, Illinois
Educational/professional background: I earned my BS in biology with a certificate in environmental studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and my MD from Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. I returned to the University of Wisconsin for pediatric residency, chief residency, and pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship. My clinical focus is coagulation and bleeding disorders.
Previous position: Just finished fellowship in early July 2022 and then transitioned to faculty.
How would you describe your work to a 5-year-old? Taking care of kids with cancer or problems in their blood.
How did you get into your field of research or area of clinical care? I had really great mentors (Dr. Carol Diamond has been a huge influence in my life).
What attracted you to the University of Wisconsin? The people! I love coming to work every day and getting to take care of kids in such a collaborative environment.
What is your favorite thing to do in Madison? So many things! I like trying new restaurants, enjoying the lakes, exploring all the fun things to do with young kids.
What’s one thing you hope trainees will learn from you and your work? The patient always comes first; the same diagnosis in two kids can be very different; it’s never wrong to ask for help.
Do you feel your work relates to the Wisconsin Idea? If so, please describe how. Getting to teach kids about their disease (like hemophilia) so they can make safe decisions when they are away from the clinic and live their lives to the fullest. I also think it’s important in our research to continue to think about how our recommendations can be implemented in various settings with different levels of resources so that safe and effective care can be accessible for as many kids as possible.
What’s something interesting about your area of expertise you can share that will make us sound smarter during video chats and parties? Hemophilia is sometimes referred to as “the royal disease” because Queen Victoria of England was thought to be a carrier and passed it along to her children and subsequently the royal families in Germany, Russia, and Spain.
What are some of your hobbies and other interests? Running, painting, pottery, cooking, reading, traveling, spending time with my husband and kids.