Dr. Peddinti is the clinical director of the pediatric sickle cell disease program at La Rabida Children’s Hospital, an acute care, children’s hospital that focuses on providing care for children with complex and chronic diseases, regardless of their ability to pay. Dr. Peddinti helped establish this program, which is one of the largest comprehensive pediatric SCD centers in Illinois - serving more than 400 patients. In addition to meeting with their hematologist, each La Rabia SCD patient receives routine check-ups, immunizations and care from a primary care pediatrician, visits with necessary medical specialists, therapies, and medications – all in one place. Working with both pediatric and young adult populations she also created a unique care model that ensures a smooth and effective transition of care from pediatric to adult care that is family-centered, comprehensive, team-driven, coordinated, and holistic.

In addition to her patient care, Dr. Peddinti is a respected leader in SCD research. She has developed a robust sickle cell registry/phenotype database with nearly 390 patients on the registry. This database provides a comprehensive snapshot of sickle cell patients and helps with participation in many multi-institutional and collaborative studies. Dr. Peddinti works closely with the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) stem cell transplant service to bring various state-of-the-art curative therapies to patients with SCD across the age spectrum and based on disease status. With recent developments in new cell-based gene therapies for sickle cell patients, Dr. Peddinti was appointed by Governor JB Pritzker to provide her expertise to the State of Illinois Advisory Council on Financing and Access to Sickle Cell Disease Treatment and Other High-Cost Drugs and Treatment. She also remains dedicated to ensuring pediatric voice is represented on the UCM Institutional Review Board (IRB) and is the sole pediatric representative on the institutional transfusion committee.

In terms of education, Dr. Peddinti has been the Program Director for the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology program for more than three years, and prior to that was the Associate Program Director. In this role, she has worked to revamp the didactic curriculum to maximize the educational experience for fellows at all levels. Her other pursuits include developing an additional curriculum with Pediatric ICU colleagues specifically to address end-of-life issues in patients, since that is particularly relevant for trainees in both subspecialities. She is dedicated to educating and training fellows and residents, along with the Nurse Practitioner and Psychology postdoctoral fellows.  

Notable achievements:

• Board Certification:

• Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics

• Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, American Board of Pediatrics

• HONORS, PRIZES, AND AWARDS

  • 2005-2007      Fellowship funded by NIH T32 Grant

  • 2007                  ASCO Merit Award

  • 2018                Award for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Collaboration, UChicago Medicine

  • 2020                Awardee, Mid-Career Mentorship Pilot Program, ASPHO

• Appointee to the Illinois Advisory Council on Financing and Access to Sickle Cell Disease Treatment and Other High-Cost Drugs and Treatment

• Author/co-author of over 30 publications

• PI, The University of Chicago and La Rabida Children's Hospital Sickle Cell Disease Registry

• Co-Investigator, An evaluation of Exosomes in Sickle Cell Lung Disease

Dr. Audrey Evans inspires me because she was an absolute icon, a pioneer. Throughout her long, storied career, Dr. Evans has been a strong advocate for holistic and compassionate care, emphasizing the importance of addressing not just the medical, but also the emotional and social needs of pediatric patients and their families. As a pediatric hem/onc fellow many, many years ago learning about the Evans staging system of Neuroblastoma and her pioneering work in developing treatments for the deadly disease had me admiring her medical and scientific acumen. Later, I learnt about her strong advocacy efforts that led to her co-founding the RMHC that now supports millions of families and ensures that children have their loved ones close during these incredibly challenging times. I deeply admire how her innovative approach to both medical treatment and family support has set new standards in pediatric oncology, ensuring that children receive comprehensive and humane care. Her impact was huge, and she will continue to inspire generations to come.

I want my legacy to be one of compassionate and impactful advocacy for children with sickle cell disease. I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of these children and their families by providing comprehensive support and care. I hope I can inspire others to prioritize empathy and holistic care for those facing chronic health challenges.