Creary Lab
The Creary Lab, led by Susan Creary, MD, MSc, focuses on improving outcomes of children, adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). SCD is an inherited condition that primarily affects underrepresented minority populations. Dr. Creary's research interests are to improve effective use of existing therapies for this population and to empower individuals with SCD and their families to make informed decisions about their health. Dr. Creary receives funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for her research in SCD.
Current Research Studies
- ADHERE – NHLBI funded, multi-site, pilot randomized trial of an innovative strategy (video directly observed therapy) to improve hydroxyurea adherence among children and adolescents with SCD.
- FUTURES – A study to develop a web-based reproductive education program and evaluate if it improves knowledge among adolescent males with SCD and their caregivers. This study is also evaluating strategies to do fertility testing in adolescent males with SCD.
- SCD Health Services Research – Dr. Creary uses large databases to evaluate the use of disease modifying therapies for SCD and to identify the reproductive health care gaps and outcomes of adolescents and young adults with SCD.
Meet Our Team
Susan Creary, MD, MSc
Principal Investigator
Susan.Creary@NationwideChildrens.org
Dr. Susan Creary is an associate professor of pediatrics and an investigator in the Center for Child Health Equity and Outcomes Research. She has provided clinical care in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH since 2013. She completed her pediatric residency at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, IN and her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh while also receiving her Master of Science in Clinical Research at the University of Pittsburgh. She is a NIH-funded and board-certified pediatric hematologist, and her clinical and research focus is to improve the outcomes of children with sickle cell disease through effective utilization of existing therapies and informed decision making.
Lab Staff
Joseph Walden
Clinical Research Coordinator I
Joseph.Walden@NationwideChildrens.org
Joe Walden was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, and he graduated from the University of Kentucky with Bachelor of Science degrees in psychology and neuroscience. He has completed three years of medical school at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and he is spending this academic year with Dr. Creary to explore research within the field of hematology/oncology before returning to Cincinnati to complete his medical degree during the 2024-2025 academic year. After medical school, Joe hopes to pursue a combined residency in internal medicine/pediatrics (med-peds) before one day specializing in hematology/oncology. He has a passion for combating inequities in healthcare and increasing access to medical therapies. In his spare time, Joe enjoys running, reading, and rooting for Cincinnati sports teams, no matter the outcome.