Newswise — Catherine Scott Manno, M.D., a nationally renowned pediatric hematologist, clinician, researcher and teacher, has been appointed chair of the Department of Pediatrics at NYU Langone Medical Center. The announcement was made by Robert I. Grossman, M.D., the Saul J. Farber Dean and CEO of NYU Langone Medical Center, who said the appointment will be effective on November 1, 2008.

Dr. Manno is presently at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. At CHOP, she holds the Elias Schwarz Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology and has served as associate chair of clinical activities in the Department of Pediatrics and senior physician in the division of hematology.

"Dr. Manno brings outstanding qualifications and wonderful personal attributes to her new position, and we expect her to play a pivotal role as we work toward a significant expansion of NYU's children's health services," says Dr. Grossman, noting that the new Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, the Fink Children's Ambulatory Care Center, the NYU Child Study Center and the expansion of the pediatric emergency department, gastroenterology and pediatric cardiology are part of the Medical Center's strategic commitment to children's services and a dedicated children's hospital.

"This is a very exciting time for pediatrics at NYU Langone, and I am delighted to be able to play a role in the expansion of the Medical Center's already pre-eminent health services for children," says Dr. Manno.

At Penn and CHOP, Dr. Manno has held an array of key administrative roles, including president of the executive committee of the medical staff and co-chair of the Clinical Translational Research Center Council. She also served as medical director of the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center and the Comprehensive Hemophilia Program. At both institutions, she was honored with numerous awards for outstanding teaching.

Dr. Manno has been principal investigator of many clinical research studies in the area of hemophilia, most recently leading a phase I study of gene transfer into the liver in subjects with hemophilia B. She has published widely on topics such as gene therapy for hemophilia, neonatal transfusion medicine, and bleeding disorders in children. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a member of the American Pediatric Society and a member of the medical and scientific advisory committee of the National Hemophilia Foundation.

Dr. Manno holds a bachelor's degree in zoology from Duke University and an M.D. from Hahnemann Medical College, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She completed her residency in pediatrics at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia and fellowship training in pediatric hematology-oncology at CHOP.

About NYU Langone Medical Center

One of the world's premier academic medical institutions for more than 167 years, NYU Langone Medical Center continues to be a leader in patient care, physician education and scientific research. NYU Langone Medical Center is internationally renowned for excellence in areas such as cardiovascular disease, pediatrics, dermatology, neurosurgery, imaging, urology, cancer care, rehabilitation, plastic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, transplant surgery, infertility, and women's health. For more information on NYU Langone Medical Center, visit http://www.nyumc.org