Francine Blei, MD

When I was training to be a pediatric hematologist–oncologist, very little was known about vascular conditions. That is part of what drew me to this specialty: I wanted to be involved in the effort to better understand how and why hemangiomas and vascular malformations occur. I now provide care for people of all ages, starting before birth through prenatal consults and continuing into adulthood.

The field has grown exponentially since I started my career, and this has been incredibly exciting. We now better understand the genetic mutations of these conditions and the disease process. This has led to the creation of new, targeted therapies. I consider myself fortunate to be involved in a specialty that is so stimulating professionally and has been able to benefit my patients and their families so profoundly.

As director of the Hemangioma and Vascular Malformations Program at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, I focus on the diagnosis and management of vascular anomalies, including hemangiomas, vascular malformations, and lymphedema, as well as the many syndromes associated with vascular anomalies. These conditions cause alterations to arteries, veins, or lymphatic vessels, or a combination of these, throughout the body. They can be esthetically challenging but may also indicate larger health issues requiring attention.

One of the pleasures of working at NYU Langone is having the opportunity to collaborate with experts across many specialties who bring their expertise to our patients. During our multidisciplinary vascular team meetings, we regularly discuss patients who have complex cases in order to strategize the best treatment plan. My patients also have access to clinical trials for new treatments and research studies that further our understanding of these conditions. I also collaborate with researchers on the PHACE Syndrome Registry project, in which researchers look into the natural history and possible genetic origins of this disease.

Every patient is special and unique, and I encourage parents and caregivers to contact me with any questions they may have. Decisions about treatment always take place after a detailed conversation about all options. I truly enjoy meeting each patient and their family, and give them my undivided attention during each visit.