Jennifer M. Kalish

Jennifer M. Kalish, M.D., Ph.D. serves as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Human Genetics) at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, with clinical and research roles at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She holds appointments as Attending Physician in the Division of Genetics, Research Scientist at the Center for Childhood Cancer Research, and Director of both the Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Clinic and the Program of Excellence in Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome at the Orphan Disease Center.

Her educational background includes a BA in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard University (1998), PhD in Genetics from Yale University (2006), MD from Yale University (2007), and Masters in Translational Research from the University of Pennsylvania (2015). These qualifications underpin her dual expertise in clinical medicine and genetic research.

Dr. Kalish's research centers on human genetics with emphasis on rare genetic disorders, particularly Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS), pediatric oncology, and translational applications for childhood diseases. Her work bridges clinical care at CHOP with laboratory research at the Colket Translational Research Building, focusing on molecular mechanisms of overgrowth syndromes and their cancer predisposition. She actively contributes to rare disease initiatives through NIH collaborations and patient education resources like the BWS Coloring book.

Her leadership extends to directing specialized clinical programs for orphan diseases, integrating care delivery with research through the Orphan Disease Center. These efforts position her at the intersection of genetic diagnostics, therapeutic development, and multidisciplinary patient support for complex pediatric conditions.