HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL

Loren Walensky, MD, PhD on staff at Children’s and the DFCI Jimmy Fund Clinic, and medical director of the Program in Cancer Chemical Biology at the DFCI, was one of Alexandra’s outstanding doctors, and is recognized internationally in his field as a significant contributor in both research and clinical pediatric oncology practices.

Under Dr. Walensky’s leadership, and through his affiliation with Harvard Medical School, ATF created the Alexandra J. Miliotis Pediatric Oncology Research Fund at Harvard Medical School. “Alex’s Team” has now funded 50 grants to Harvard Medical students – “Alex Miliotis Fellows” – in the field of pediatric oncology, including such topics as genetic expression and mutation, cancer treatment methods, and family support services.

This is a competitive Fellowship, designed to provide selected Harvard Medical School students with the opportunity to conduct research in pediatric oncology at Children’s Hospital Boston, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and affiliated hospitals and research laboratories. These students gain practical experience in hospital and research settings , under the mentorship of on-staff clinical/research physicians.

As of 2017, more than 70% of the funded Fellows continue to pursue work in the pediatric oncology field. Many of the fellowship recipients maintain a relationship with “Alex’s Team,” expressing their sincere appreciation for the unique opportunities afforded to them by the Foundation, and “paying it forward” by introducing their incoming classmates to the opportunity to participate in this program.