Morning Session 2

Joanna Weinstein, MD, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and an attending physician in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Lurie Children’s. In addition, she is the Director of the Cancer Predisposition Program.

 She earned her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed her pediatrics residency at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia and her Pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellowship at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.  She is board-certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology by the American Board of Pediatrics.
 
Her clinical interests include hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes, retinoblastoma, hematologic malignancies, and histiocytic disorders.  In the Cancer Predisposition Program at Lurie Children’s, Dr. Weinstein and her team provide comprehensive genetic counseling and testing services to pediatric patients and families at risk of hereditary cancer syndromes and provide management guidance and recommendations to families, based on the results of personalized cancer risk assessments.
 
Her research interests include identifying and managing late effects in retinoblastoma patients, evaluating novel testing platforms in the evaluation of patients at risk for cancer predisposition syndromes, and testing novel treatments for patients with pediatric cancer.  In 2019, Dr. Weinstein was awarded a $100,000 grant from Hyundai Hope on Wheels to further clinical and research endeavors in the Cancer Predisposition Program.
 
Dr. Weinstein sees patients at Lurie Children’s at the main hospital location and offers both in-person and telemedicine appointments for patients referred to the Cancer Predisposition Program.

Jessica Feuerstein, DO, is a dedicated and compassionate adolescent and young adult (AYA) health fellow at Lurie Children's. Her clinical and research interests are centered in seeking continuous growth and expertise in AYA health to provide comprehensive care to young individuals and promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being through evidence-based medicine, advocacy, and innovative approaches.

In the next step of her career, Dr. Feuerstein will be joining an academic practice as a clinician educator where she will continue to contribute her skills in research, quality improvement, patient advocacy and medical education in order to make a meaningful impact on the lives of AYA, their families and community.

Lance Nelson, MD MS MA, is an attending physician in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Lurie Children’s where he also serves as the Medical Director for the Eating Disorder Program. His clinical and research interests are on health equity and access as well as males with restrictive eating.

Dr. Nelson earned his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.  He completed his pediatrics residency at The University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and his adolescent medicine fellowship at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University.

Dr. Nelson sees patients at Lurie Children’s main hospital, Lurie Children’s Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park (1440 N. Dayton).

Alanna Higgins Joyce, MD, MPH, is an attending pediatrician in the Division of Hospital-Based Medicine at Lurie Children’s, caring for hospitalized children and newborns. She is also Clerkship Director in Pediatrics where she oversees medical student programming and assessment. In this role Alanna works with faculty, staff, and administration across several institutions for the training of medical students in patient care settings. Alanna is an Associate Professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; she has published and spoken nationally in the areas of medical education, faculty feedback, and curriculum development.

Alanna holds an MD and an MPH from Tulane University and completed residency training in Pediatrics at the former Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. She has a Master of Science in Teaching and experience teaching middle-school science. Alanna earned her bachelor’s degree in cognitive science from Northwestern University. She is a mother of three boys and a lifelong ballet dancer.

Dr. Higgins Joyce sees patients at Lurie Children’s – main hospital location and Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital.