Maria Castellanos

Maria Castellanos is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco. Her work focuses on treating children with high-risk pediatric hematologic malignancies and investigating geospatial, racial, and ethnic disparities in pediatric cancers, particularly pediatric leukemias in the LatinX population.

• Education:
  • BS in Cell & Molecular Biology, University of Nevada Las Vegas (2005-2010)
  • MD in Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine (2010-2014)
  • Pediatrics Residency, Stanford University (2014-2017)
  • Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine (2018-2021)

Her research integrates clinical investigation with public health, emphasizing health equity in pediatric oncology outcomes. Recent publications highlight disparities in childhood leukemia survival linked to border residence, racial gaps in acute myeloid leukemia mortality, and evidence-based protocols for managing pediatric hematologic conditions. She has also contributed to studies on infectious disease mechanisms in Shigella flexneri and transfusion-related challenges in pediatric cancer survivors.

Scientific Awards include:

• NIH IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence Research Scholarship (2008)
• NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates-Microbiology Research Scholarship (2009)
• Stanford Society of Physician Scholars (2015-2017)
• New Century Scholar, Academic Pediatric Association (2019)
• Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training, and Research Clinical Fellow Scholar (2021)
• Choosing Wisely Champion, American Society of Hematology Committee on Quality (2021)
• Quality Award of Cancer and Hematology Award, Texas Children’s Hospital (2022)
• Award of Excellence for Panel Presentation at Pediatric Grand Rounds, Baylor College of Medicine (2021)