Hematologist /oncologist joins transplantation unit at Franciscan St. Francis Health

INDIANAPOLIS – John R. Edwards, MD, has joined Indiana Blood and Marrow Transplantation (IBMT), located at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

He joins Luke Akard, MD; Michael Dugan, MD; and James Thompson, MD, in providing care to patients undergoing autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation, as well as patients with hematological malignances, including acute leukemia, myeloma and lymphoma.  Edwards brings to IBMT extensive clinical and laboratory experience in hematology, oncology and stem cell therapy.

“For more than 25 years IBMT has provided patient-focused care along with cutting-edge clinical trials for those in need of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or fighting blood cancer,” said Akard, IBMT co-director. “The addition of a caring physician like Dr. Edwards, who also brings a wealth of expertise in stem cell processing and all aspects of clinical trials, will allow us to continue to stay at the forefront of advanced care with the patient and family as our primary focus.”

Board-certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Edwards comes to IBMT from CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services in Cincinnati, where he served as Medical Director and provided consultative services in cellular therapy, regenerative medicine and clinical trial oversight.  From 1996 until 2009, he was the founding medical director of the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, where he established the adult and pediatric transplant program as well as an active research program.

He later served as president, chief operating office and chief medical officer for Lifeforce Cryobanks, a National Marrow Donor program-approved umbilical cord blood.

A member of the International Society for Cellular Therapy and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplant, he earned his medical degree from the University of Florida and trained in pediatrics as well as pediatric immunology and hematology/oncology at the University of California, San Francisco.

He performed additional fellowship training in BMT and pediatric hematology/oncology at the University of Florida before joining the faculty at Vanderbilt University as Director of the Pediatric BMT Program.

Edwards held appointments as an instructor at the University of Florida and University of California, San Francisco ,as well as being on the adjunct faculty at Duke University and the University of Central Florida.

The IBMT clinic is located in the Franciscan St. Francis Cancer Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.