Dr. Kusum Viswanathan is Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and Director of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at The Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She is Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the New York Medical College. She is Board-certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology. Dr.Viswanathan has created a comprehensive program for Sickle cell patients and has received several service grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration and New York State for sickle cell care, education and outreach. Her current grant from NY State is to create transition services for patients with sickle cell disease.Dr. Viswanathan was awarded the Brookdale medal for her service and commitment to the hospital and the lifetime achievement award from the “Sickle Cell Thalassemia Patient Network” and Candice’s Sickle Cell. She is included in the Castle Connolly Guide, “How to find the Best Doctors in New York Metro Area” from 1998 to current editions and in the US News Top Doctors list since 2012.
Dr. Viswanathan earned a medical degree from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, India. She completed residency training in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric hematology oncology at the Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.
Dr Viswanathan is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. She has served as the Co-Chair of the Sickle Cell Advisory Consortium of NY State. She is also on the Medical Advisory Board of the Make-a-Wish Foundation of New York. She has published in journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the National Medical Association, Clinical Pediatrics and the Archives of Internal Medicine.