Board certified in pediatric hematology and oncology by the American Board of Pediatrics, Dr. Vinod Balasa joined Valley Children’s Specialty Medical Group in August 2012 as medical director, hematology/oncology. His primary interests include the diagnosis, treatment, and care of children with various cancers and blood disorders. He also has a special interest, unique expertise, and vast experience in managing children with bleeding and clotting disorders.
With over 20 years’ experience, Dr. Balasa has practiced at the University of Louisville and Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, where he served as associate professor of pediatrics and director of the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Program. During his tenure there, he was instrumental in significantly growing and developing the program. This included developing a program to smoothly transition adolescent and young adult patients with bleeding and clotting disorders to the adult hemophilia treatment center, a combined clinic with adolescent gynecology for young girls and women with bleeding disorders, a multidisciplinary pediatric stroke clinic, and participation in various multi-institutional trials in hemophilia and pediatric cancer. In addition, he was actively involved in the care of pediatric patients with cancer and children undergoing bone marrow transplantation.
Prior to this, Dr. Balasa worked at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, as director of the Thrombophilia Program, Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, where he helped establish one of the first comprehensive pediatric thrombosis programs in the country as well as a multidisciplinary pediatric stroke clinic.
Dr. Balasa has published extensively in various peer-reviewed journals, including Pediatric Blood and Cancer, Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, and Journal of Pediatrics.
He has presented internationally on various topics, such as advances in management of hemophilia, evaluation and management of thrombotic disorders in children, childhood stroke, and sickle cell disease, to name a few.
Dr. Balasa is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Children’s Oncology Group; American Society of Hematology; American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis; and Hemophilia and Thrombosis Research Society.
Dr. Balasa received his medical degree at M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore University in Bangalore, India. He completed his residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago Hospitals in Chicago, Illinois. He obtained his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
In his free time, Dr. Balasa enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, swimming, playing badminton, and socializing with friends.