5/28/2026
PITTSBURGH — UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh today announced the appointment of Jeffrey J. Bednarski, M.D., Ph.D., as chief of the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation and director of the Mario Lemieux Institute for Pediatric Cancer Research, effective June 1, 2026.With a strong background as a physician-scientist and leader in pediatric cancer care, Dr. Bednarski will oversee clinical programs, research initiatives and innovation efforts focused on improving outcomes for children with cancer and blood disorders.
“Dr. Bednarski brings an exceptional combination of scientific expertise and clinical leadership that will further strengthen UPMC Children’s position as a national leader in pediatric cancer care,” said Terence Dermody, M.D., Vira I. Heinz Professor and chair, department of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh. “His vision for advancing research and expanding access to cutting-edge therapies will benefit patients and families across our region and beyond.”
Dr. Bednarski joins UPMC Children’s from St. Louis Children’s Hospital where he led research and clinical efforts focused on leukemia, immune deficiencies and stem cell biology.
“My vision is for pediatric hematology/oncology at UPMC Children’s is to be a leader in both research and clinical care of children with blood disorders and cancer,” said Dr. Bednarski. “I look forward to building a program that serves as a destination for patients and families, while advancing innovative therapies through scientific discovery and clinical trials.”
Dr. Bednarski’s research focuses on understanding how blood cells develop and identifying new treatment approaches for leukemia and immune deficiencies. His laboratory investigates signaling networks that regulate early stem cell and B cell development, with a particular emphasis on how cells respond to DNA damage and how those processes contribute to disease. This research focus also aligns Dr. Bednarski with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center's Genome Stability research program, where he will be appointed as a full member.
In addition to his laboratory work, Dr. Bednarski has led clinical trials aimed at improving bone marrow transplantation for patients with immune deficiencies and advancing immune-based therapies for children with leukemia.
He earned his medical and doctoral degrees from the University of Michigan and completed his pediatric residency and hematology/oncology fellowship at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.
Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, Dr. Bednarski is excited to return to the region and lead the next chapter of pediatric cancer care and research at UPMC Children’s.
