Meet physician-scientist Stella T. Chou, MD, the new Chief of the Division of Hematology. Stella T. Chou, MD Meet Stella T. Chou, MD, the new Chief of the Division of Hematology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). As a physician-scientist, Dr. Chou has dedicated her career to advancing research in sickle cell disease, transfusion medicine and blood cell development. Her NIH-funded laboratory has contributed important discoveries in developmental hematology and stem cell biology and, more recently, has helped pave the way for personalized transfusion therapies and synthetic blood products. In 2026, the American Society of Hematology honored Dr. Chou with its prestigious William Dameshek Prize, awarded to a mid-career individual who has made outstanding contributions in hematology.We recently spoke with Dr. Chou about her path to hematology, the promise of emerging therapies and her vision for the future of hematology at CHOP.Question: Why did you choose hematology?Answer: It’s funny because I originally came to CHOP planning to become a pediatric oncologist. During my fellowship training in pediatric hematology-oncology, I discovered that I really loved hematology.What drew me in was the puzzle-solving aspect of the field. Hematology challenges you to think deeply about a patient’s presentation, the diagnosis and a management plan. There’s an art to it. We care for patients with both common and incredibly rare conditions, and there’s a lot of thought involved in understanding each patient’s unique situation.Q: And why pediatrics?A: I’ve wanted to be a pediatrician since I was about 5 years old. My own pediatrician was someone I really admired and wanted to emulate.I always knew I wanted to go to medical school and work with children. Later, during med school, I discovered my passion for pediatric hematology-oncology.Q: What are some of the most rewarding aspects of working in the field of hematology?A: Much of my clinical and research work focuses on patients with sickle cell disease and the transfusion management challenges they face. What motivates me every day is knowing that there is still so much more we can do to improve care.My research team is working to bring precision medicine to transfusion care. We are trying to use advanced molecular methods to better match donors and patients, helping reduce the risk of transfusion reactions. We also use pluripotent stem cells in the laboratory to create specialized red blood cells that help us better understand the antibodies some patients develop.Our ultimate goal is to make transfusions safer and more effective.Q: What is it like to care for children with blood disorders?A: Many of the conditions we treat are inherited or chronic, so we have the opportunity to care for patients over many years. Over time, families build trust with their care team. For most blood disorders, we have excellent therapies to offer so our patients can do the things we want every child, adolescent or young adult to do.Q: What makes CHOP’s Division of Hematology unique?A: One of the greatest strengths of CHOP Hematology is the depth and breadth of expertise across the division. We have leading experts in areas such as hemostasis and thrombosis, hemoglobinopathies, bone marrow failure and many other hematologic disorders.What I enjoy most is being surrounded by colleagues who are exceptionally knowledgeable and want to share that knowledge. We practice team-based care and team science. Whether we’re caring for a patient or advancing research, we’re able to draw on the expertise of specialists across the division. What sets us apart is knowing that no matter what the condition the patient has, I feel like we are giving them the best care possible since we work as a team.Q: What areas of hematology research are most exciting to you right now?A: Hematology has led the way in many advances in gene therapy, and that’s an incredibly exciting area of research.Blood cells are relatively accessible, which makes it possible to study diseases, understand their underlying mechanisms and develop new approaches to treatment. At CHOP, we’re particularly strong in translational research. We have investigators conducting basic science research. Others are translating those discoveries into potential therapies and helping bring those therapies to patients through clinical trials.Q: What is your vision for the Division of Hematology?A: My goal is to continue building on CHOP's reputation as a world-class hematology program.We want to provide outstanding care for children with every type of hematologic disorder, offer access to cutting-edge therapies and continue to be leaders in developing the next generation of treatments.Q: Is there anything else you’d like families to know about hematology at CHOP?A: What drives my colleagues and me is a commitment to always improving the quality of care we provide to patients.In areas such as sickle cell disease and hemophilia, we’ve seen rapid advances over the past two decades. Increased investment in research has led to new treatments and, in some cases, therapies with curative potential. It’s pretty incredible. We’re moving closer than ever to not only caring for patients but potentially curing certain diseases.Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?A: Most of my free time is spent with my husband and our two children. We love to travel, and we love to eat, so those two activities often go hand in hand.We are on a quest to visit all 30 baseball stadiums in the United States and Canada. We have an upcoming trip that will get us to 22 stadiums. It’s been a fun way to spend time together, see the U.S. and experience each city’s unique food.
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