Vidya Puthenpura, MD, MHS, FAAP
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Hematology/Oncology)Cards
About
Research
Publications
2023
Identifying Gender and Racial Bias in Pediatric Fellowship Letters of Recommendation: Do Word Choices Influence Interview Decisions?
Boolchandani H, Chen L, Elder R, Osborn R, Phatak U, Puthenpura V, Sheares B, Tiyyagura G, Amster L, Lee S, Langhan M. Identifying Gender and Racial Bias in Pediatric Fellowship Letters of Recommendation: Do Word Choices Influence Interview Decisions? The Journal Of Pediatrics 2023, 265: 113843. PMID: 37995931, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113843.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUse of Immersive Virtual Reality Spaces to Engage Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer in Therapist-Guided Support Groups: Protocol for a Pre-Post Study
Marks A, Garbatini A, Hieftje K, Puthenpura V, Weser V, Fernandes C. Use of Immersive Virtual Reality Spaces to Engage Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer in Therapist-Guided Support Groups: Protocol for a Pre-Post Study. JMIR Research Protocols 2023, 12: e48761. PMID: 37943596, PMCID: PMC10667982, DOI: 10.2196/48761.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchINTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIERYoung adult patientsSupport groupsAdult patientsYoung adultsMean attendance rateSupport group interventionNon-Hispanic blacksNon-Hispanic whitesOverall retention rateNon-Hispanic AsiansRare disease populationPeer support groupsFacilitated support groupBone marrow failureMedian ageCommon diagnosisPreliminary efficacyHematologic malignanciesDisease populationLife measuresPatientsFinal intervention sessionTransgender femalesPsychosocial supportOUTC-08. IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH DATA COLLECTION FOR PEDIATRIC, ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT NEURO-ONCOLOGY PATIENTS IN THE CLINICAL TRIAL CONSORTIA SETTING: PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES
Puthenpura V, Bona K, Cooney T, Coven S, Davidson T, Fouladi M, Kline C, Leary S, Mueller S, Green A, Marks A. OUTC-08. IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH DATA COLLECTION FOR PEDIATRIC, ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT NEURO-ONCOLOGY PATIENTS IN THE CLINICAL TRIAL CONSORTIA SETTING: PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES. Neuro-Oncology 2023, 25: i37-i37. PMCID: PMC10260067, DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad073.145.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeuro-oncology patientsMulticenter clinical trialClinical trialsSocial determinantsSocioeconomic statusClinical Trials ConsortiumLong-term complicationsAYA cancer patientsAdverse social determinantsSocioeconomic status dataAdverse SDOHSurvival disparitiesMultidisciplinary careTherapy adherenceToxicity incidenceCancer patientsTrial therapyPersonal socioeconomic statusOutcome disparitiesTrial designSDOHPatientsHealth equityHealth data collectionTrialsAdjuvant chemotherapy does not improve outcome in children with ovarian immature teratoma: A comparative analysis of clinical trial data from the Malignant Germ Cell International Consortium
Vieira A, Puthenpura V, Krailo M, Fallahazad N, Brougham M, Murray M, Frazier A, Lopes L, Pashankar F. Adjuvant chemotherapy does not improve outcome in children with ovarian immature teratoma: A comparative analysis of clinical trial data from the Malignant Germ Cell International Consortium. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2023, 70: e30426. PMID: 37243320, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30426.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOvarian immature teratomaOverall survivalImmature teratomaPostoperative chemotherapyBrazilian patientsStage IIAdjuvant chemotherapyUK cohortGrade 1 diseaseGrade 3 patientsReceipt of chemotherapyMainstay of therapyValue of chemotherapyPrimary outcome measureClinical trial dataIT patientsEntire cohortUK patientsRelapse riskBrazilian cohortOutcome measuresPractice variationChemotherapyPatientsStage IPersonality Changes and Staring Spells in a 12-Year-Old Child: A Case Report Incorporating ChatGPT, a Natural Language Processing Tool Driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Puthenpura V, Nadkarni S, DiLuna M, Hieftje K, Marks A. Personality Changes and Staring Spells in a 12-Year-Old Child: A Case Report Incorporating ChatGPT, a Natural Language Processing Tool Driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Cureus 2023, 15: e36408. PMID: 37090271, PMCID: PMC10115215, DOI: 10.7759/cureus.36408.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLow-grade gliomasIntracranial tumorsPersonality changesTreatment of LGGCentral nervous system tumorsMain presenting featuresBroad differential diagnosisNervous system tumorsPresenting featuresPediatric patientsCase reportSystem tumorsFavorable outcomeEndocrine conditionsMain symptomsDifferential diagnosisIntracranial neoplasmsBrain tumorsGrade gliomasEarly identificationSymptomsTumorsOlder childrenCommon typeNatural language processing toolsWords Used in Letters of Recommendation for Pediatric Residency Applicants: Demographic Differences and Impact on Interviews
Boolchandani H, Osborn R, Tiyyagura G, Sheares B, Chen L, Phatak U, Puthenpura V, Elder R, Lee S, Amster L, Langhan M. Words Used in Letters of Recommendation for Pediatric Residency Applicants: Demographic Differences and Impact on Interviews. Academic Pediatrics 2023, 23: 1614-1619. PMID: 36889506, DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2023.02.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLetters of recommendationLetter writersCommunal termsNatural language processing applicationsLanguage processing applicationsApplicant genderInterview statusCommunal wordsWritersLanguageAgentic termsWordsGenderLetterSenior academic ranksRaceTextAgenciesEquitable approachResidency candidatesWomenSignificant associationEthnicitySignificant differencesInterviewsLoss to follow‐up of minorities, adolescents, and young adults on clinical trials: A report from the Children's Oncology Group
Puthenpura V, Ji L, Xu X, Roth M, Freyer D, Frazier A, Marks A, Pashankar F. Loss to follow‐up of minorities, adolescents, and young adults on clinical trials: A report from the Children's Oncology Group. Cancer 2023, 129: 1547-1556. PMID: 36813754, PMCID: PMC10357561, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34701.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsClinical trial participantsNon-Hispanic blacksTrial participantsHazard ratioOncology GroupClinical trialsMultivariable Cox proportional hazards regression modelsCox proportional hazards regression modelChildren's Oncology Group trialsProportional hazards regression modelsYoung adultsAdjusted hazard ratioChildren's Oncology GroupLong-term complicationsLong-term outcomesLog-rank testHazards regression modelsPediatric clinical trialsCancer clinical trial participantsLow socioeconomic status areasLong-term survivalEthnic minority patientsQuality of lifeLow socioeconomic statusNon-Hispanic whitesRisk of early death in adolescents and young adults with cancer: a population-based study
Berkman A, Andersen C, Hildebrandt M, Livingston J, Green A, Puthenpura V, Peterson S, Milam J, Miller K, Freyer D, Roth M. Risk of early death in adolescents and young adults with cancer: a population-based study. Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2023, 115: 447-455. PMID: 36682385, PMCID: PMC10086632, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djac206.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCentral nervous system tumorsNervous system tumorsEarly deathHematologic malignanciesSolid tumorsCancer typesInsurance statusSystem tumorsYoung adultsEnd Results registrySocioeconomic statusPopulation-based studyLow socioeconomic statusSupportive careHigh riskSociodemographic factorsAYAsTumorsHealth systemMalignancyCancerDeathRiskDeath percentageDiagnosis
2022
Intentional overdose of rivaroxaban and alcohol: A case report
Hamidi R, Sowa A, Halperin‐Goldstein S, Puthenpura V, Prozora S. Intentional overdose of rivaroxaban and alcohol: A case report. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2022, 70: e29969. PMID: 36094312, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29969.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNFB-05. A family-centered neurocutaneous syndrome clinic in the age of targeted therapies
Marks A, Antaya R, Balsamo L, Cardinale K, Cheron R, Frumberg D, Gentile V, Habib L, Puthenpura V, Zhang H. NFB-05. A family-centered neurocutaneous syndrome clinic in the age of targeted therapies. Neuro-Oncology 2022, 24: i129-i129. PMCID: PMC9165028, DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac079.469.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTuberous sclerosisPediatric patients 2 yearsYale-New Haven Children's HospitalInoperable plexiform neurofibromasPatients 2 yearsOwn side effectsYears of ageNeurofibromatosis type 1Multidisciplinary clinicNeurocutaneous syndromeChildren's HospitalPlexiform neurofibromaNeuro-oncologySide effectsSubspecialty consultationClinicType 1Young adultsSclerosisSyndromeHospitalTherapyAgeTreatmentClinical reasoning
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
A Phase 3 Study of Selumetinib (NSC# 748727) or Selumetinib in Combination With Vinblastine for Non-NF1, Non-TSC Patients With Recurrent or Progressive Low-Grade Gliomas (LGGs) Lacking BRAFV600E or IDH1 Mutations
HIC ID2000032978RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/30/2026Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase 1/2 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of a Single Dose of Autologous Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Gene-edited CD34+ Human Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells (EDIT-301) in Subjects With Severe Sickle Cell Disease
HIC ID2000032707RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/01/2025Recruiting ParticipantsA Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Drug Levels, and Preliminary Efficacy of Relatlimab Plus Nivolumab in Pediatric and Young Adults With Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (RELATIVITY-069)
HIC ID2000032969RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date07/05/2028Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase 1/2 Trial of Selinexor (KPT-330) and Radiation Therapy in Newly-Diagnosed Pediatric Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) and High-Grade Glioma (HGG)
HIC ID2000034320RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2027Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase 3 Randomized Study of Selumetinib Versus Carboplatin/Vincristine in Newly Diagnosed or Previously Untreated Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) Associated Low-Grade Glioma (LGG)
HIC ID2000028691RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date05/01/2027Recruiting Participants
Clinical Care
Overview
Vidya Puthenpura, MD, MHS, is a pediatric hematologist and oncologist who says she seeks a strong connection with her patients and families.
“I love my patients and I’m really attached to them,” she says. “A cancer diagnosis is hard and one thing that can ease their mind is knowing that I am there for them through both the good and tough times. I find I do my best work when I am emotionally connected to what I do, and having that connection with children and their families is so rewarding.”
Dr. Puthenpura originally thought she wanted to be an engineer, but a volunteer experience she had at a pediatric cancer institute convinced her she wanted to be a doctor and work with kids.
“The children were so amazing and motivated and I knew I wanted to help them get better,” she says. “In medical school, I explored a few different specialties, but I kept coming back to hematology and oncology. I love that you have continuity of care because you spend so much time with patients and make a connection. I also loved that the field is constantly growing and changing with innovations.”
Dr. Puthenpura treats a variety of conditions, but her personal area of interest is in pediatric brain tumors.
“We have an amazing multidisciplinary team. Our goal is to focus on the entire family, including caregivers and siblings,” she says. “We tailor how we explain what is going on to a child based on their age and level of maturity. And for parents, we try to explain things in a thorough manner because we need them to understand what is going on. For some, we break it down into parts, whereas other parents come in armed with information about clinical trials.”
Her research examines health disparities. “Adolescents and young adults in the U.S. who have brain tumors and are minorities and live in rural areas are disadvantaged—and tend to have decreased survival rates and access to clinical trials compared to non-Hispanic, white youth,” she says. “These issues are important, and I’m happy to see them coming to the limelight more.”
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Pediatric Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
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Board Certifications
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Pediatrics
- Original Certification Date
- 2023
Pediatrics
- Certification Organization
- AB of Pediatrics
- Original Certification Date
- 2019