Welcome to the Bob Costas Cancer Center at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center.
At the Bob Costas Cancer Center in Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, children and their families find a team of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals who are dedicated to providing the very best in medical care, while at the same time providing a wide array of services to help throughout the course of cancer treatment.
Neuro-Oncology Program
Contact Us
For parents: to make an appointment, please call (314) 268-4000.
For professionals: to speak with a physician, please call (314) 268-4000, or the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Academic Office at (314) 577-5638.
World-Class Expertise
Each year, approximately 70 children in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area are diagnosed with cancer and seek treatment at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. The Bob Costas Cancer Center opened in the summer of 1998 and uses a comprehensive, team approach to diagnose and treat these children with cancer and blood disorders.
Physicians and scientists at Cardinal Glennon and Saint Louis University have world-class expertise in Pediatric Surgery, Neurosurgery, Tumor Orthopedic Surgery, Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Clinical Pathology - all necessary components for successful pediatric cancer treatment.
Our physicians are members of the Children’s Oncology Group, a network of children’s hospitals sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. This affiliation allows us to offer the very latest treatments for childhood cancer (including innovative and investigational new therapies when appropriate).
Day Hospital
The centerpiece of the Bob Costas Cancer Center is our Day Hospital, which provides a comfortable setting for children to receive prolonged treatments (such as chemotherapy, transfusions, or other drug treatments) without having to be admitted to the hospital. The Center also has facilities for performing minor procedures under sedation, thus avoiding pain or discomfort.
By expanding the range of therapy that can be given on an outpatient basis, children are able to spend more time at home or school, and thus keep up their normal daily routines and activities. The Day Hospital is conveniently located near the hospital entrance and other important hospital services. Family members and friends can accompany patients during their treatments in quiet, private accommodations.
Affiliations
Basket of Hope is a non-profit organization which began at Cardinal Glennon in 1995. The program delivers inspirational material to newly diagnosed children and their families affected by cancer.
Cardinal Glennon is a proud supporter of the St. Baldrick's Foundation.
Cord Blood Transplantation
Costas Center physicians have taken a leading role in developing the use of stem cell transplants for cancer and life-threatening blood and immune disorders. They have a close working relationship with the Saint Louis Cord Blood Bank, the second largest cord blood bank in the country and an internationally recognized leader in the field of cord blood transplantation in both children and adults.
Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment
The Bob Costas Cancer Center is part of a cooperative network of Sickle Cell Anemia treatment centers throughout the Midwest, actively researching new ways to improve the health of children with Sickle Cell Anemia. The Center provides comprehensive care for approximately 160 children with Sickle Cell Anemia, with about 15 newborns entering the program each year.
Hemophilia Treatment
Cardinal Glennon is the only federally-funded, pediatric Hemophilia Center in Saint Louis. The center is a leader in developing new treatments for children with Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. The Hemophilia program has expanded its scope to include the evaluation and treatment of children with suspected clotting disorders.
Meet the Team
A core group of nationally and internationally respected physicians work closely with experienced nurses, social workers and child life therapists to provide a healthcare experience for children and their families that is as physically and emotionally healing as possible.
William Ferguson, MD, Medical Director
John Puetz, MD, Director of Long-term Follow-up Clinic
Deepika Bhatla, MD
Gordon Gale, MD
Karen Gauvain, MD
Christopher Hugge, MD
Dennis O'Connor, MD
Brandon Triplett, MD
Sue Yates, Administrative Director
Diane Migneco, Secretary