Manning Family Children’s physician to serve as president of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Written By Alicia Vial

Dr. Maria Velez to lead the national organization comprised of more than 2,000 hematologists oncologists

NEW ORLEANS - The American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) announced Maria Velez, MD, FAAP, pediatric hematologist oncologist at Manning Family Children’s, as the organization’s new president during their annual conference in Louisville, KY in May.  

ASPHO is the professional medical society of pediatric Hematology Oncology subspecialists and other healthcare professionals dedicated to promoting the optimal care of children, adolescents, and young adults with blood disorders and cancer. Based out of Louisville, ASPHO is a national organization aimed at bringing together medical professionals from the pediatric Hematology Oncology field for the purpose of advancing care in each of their hometowns.

“Dr. Velez is an exceptional clinician whose contributions to our institution and to the children of Louisiana and the Gulf South have been significant,” says Senior Vice President, Manning Family Children’s Physician-in-Chief and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark Kline. “Her profound passion, unwavering commitment to caring for children and families, and expertise in the field of pediatric cancers and blood disorders make her an exemplary choice for this national leadership position.”

Inspired by her father, who was also a physician, Dr. Velez pursued her medical education at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in 1987 before spending her residency period at University Pediatric Hospital in Puerto Rico. She went on to complete her medical studies with a fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland, and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

"I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Velez since joining the Manning Family Children’s team," says Dr. Charles S. Hemenway, service line chief for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Manning Family Children’s. “Dr. Velez is the epitome of what we should strive for when it comes to patient care and dedication to our craft, and will work to advance the field and best support peers nationally in her role as president of ASPHO. We are incredibly proud of her.”

The nationally recognized Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Manning Family Children's has the largest team of pediatric hematologists oncologists in the Gulf South, with faculty from both LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane University School of Medicine. The center offers the most advanced therapies as a longstanding member of Children’s Oncology Group, providing advanced treatments for children with leukemia, lymphoma, Sickle Cell Disease, hemophilia, and other childhood cancers and blood disorders. As the only accredited pediatric stem cell transplant program in Louisiana, the team at Manning Family Children’s performs advanced treatments including bone marrow transplants, CAR-T cell therapy, and newly-approved gene therapy for treatment of Sickle Cell Disease. Manning Family Children's is also actively conducting cancer research at the forefront of medicine with the largest, most experienced group of pediatric cancer specialists in the region.

For more information about Dr. Velez or Manning Family Children’s visit manningchildrens.org. 

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About Manning Family Children’s:
Manning Family Children’s is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Manning Family Children’s offers a comprehensive array of specialized pediatric services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, Children’s operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Children’s offers primary care at 17 convenient locations, along with a network of statewide pediatric affiliations. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Lakeview Hospital, and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at manningchildren’s.org.  

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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