STEPHEN D. HASSENFELD CHILDREN’S CENTER FOR CANCER AND BLOOD DISORDERS

The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders was created in 1990 as a comprehensive outpatient program for children from birth to young adulthood. We provide the most up-to-date treatment and support services for children with cancers and blood disorders, including brain tumors, bone and soft tissue sarcomas, leukemia, vascular malformations and other diseases of the blood such as platelet and blood-clotting disorders.

The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders was named in memory of Stephen D. Hassenfeld, Chairman of Hasbro, Inc. a leading manufacturer and designer of toys, games and software for children and the founder of the Hasbro Children’s Foundation. The mission of the Hassenfeld Center is to provide the best possible research-driven care in a compassionate and respectful manner to all children in need regardless of financial ability.

The Hassenfeld Center is a member of the Children’s Cancer Group (CCG), the leading consortium of pediatric cancer centers in the U.S. and a major source of pediatric cancer research studies. Through our membership in CCG, we can provide patients with the latest treatments. Our patients not only benefit from the results of nationally established protocols, but also have immediate access to original research pioneered by our physicians in areas such as stem cell transplantation and interferon therapy.

At the Hassenfeld Center, our staff is devoted to treating the disease and helping children come through their illnesses with their spirits intact. Our team of physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, oncology nurses and child life specialists utilize an integrated multi-disciplinary model to provide the comprehensive care each child requires. The goal of the Center’s Behavioral Health Team is to encourage normal development, and enhance the patients’ and families’ ability to understand the illness and handle the many emotions that can accompany it. Our psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and child life specialists help children and family members recognize important and often confusing feelings that may be difficult to express. The team uses an array of specialty services including neuropsychological and educational evaluations for appropriate school placement; "medical play" to help children achieve a sense of mastery and control over their situation; creative arts therapies that allow for nonverbal expression of feelings; and individual and group counseling to teach coping strategies.

The Hassenfeld Center is a home away from home for many of the children and families who receive outpatient services here. Our 8,000 square-foot Center has playroom space for play therapy activities, a video room for watching movies and comfortable private room for treatments that take several hours. The Center is equipped with an on-site laboratory that provides physicians with immediate results and streamlines appointment times. These features, as well as many others, reflect the staff’s commitment to provide caring, compassionate attention to pediatric patients and their families.

The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders is located at 317 East 34^th Street and can be reached at (212) 263-8400. Dr. Jonathan Finlay, Medical Director of the Center, can be reached at (212) 263-6725 .

Frequently Asked Questions About Cancer and Blood Disorders