Dina Parekh MD

Education

Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science (Biology/English), cum laude, Georgetown University
College of Arts and Sciences, Washington DC 1993-1997
Medical: Doctor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences,
F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Bethesda MD 1997-2001
Residency: Pediatrics, San Antonio Military Pediatric Residency Program, San Antonio,TX 2001-2004
Fellowship: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, National Capital Consortium 2008-2011
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda MD

Biography

Dina Parekh, COL(R), MC, USA served as a military medical officer in the Army for over 20 years in clinical, operational, and leadership roles. Throughout, Dr. Parekh was deeply engaged in undergraduate and graduate medical education, holding positions such as the Service Chief for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Associate Program Director for the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellowship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and serving as an active member on the Admissions Committee at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences prior to her retirement in 2022.

Dr. Parekh then joined the NIH and now serves as the Director of Undergraduate Medical Training Programs, where she oversees clinical and research training programs for medical students. She continues her clinical work at NIH on protocols with the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute’s Hematology consult service, and in GME with the National Cancer Institute's Pediatric Oncology Branch.

She remains committed to military medical education, remaining involved in USU courses.

Career Highlights: Positions, Projects, Deployements, Awards and Additional Publications

Military Awards: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal x3, Army Achievement Medal x3, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Multinational Force and Observers Medal, Parachute Badge, Certificate of Achievement, Army Superior Unit Award

1st Support Battalion, Task Force Sinai, Egypt OIC, North Camp Dispensary, Deputy Force Surgeon, JUN 2014-OCT 2014

Department of Pediatrics, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Fort Hood, Tx 2004-2008; Chief Well Baby Clinic Aug 2004-Feb 2006; Chief Pediatrics Clinic Feb 2006-Sept 2006

27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Battalion Surgeon Mosul, Iraq OCT 2006-DEC2007

Chair, Blood Utilization Review Committee, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center February 2015 - present

9A proficiency designation, Medical Corps, United States Army Oct 2017

Master Clinician, General Pediatrics , Walter Reed National Military Medical Center August 2016

Ogden Bruton Scientific Awards, Competition Finalist, American Academy of Pediatrics March 2012

Bailey K Ashford Laboratory Research Award, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, March 2011

Representative Bibliography

Parekh DS, Eaton WA, Thein SL. Recent developments in the use of pyruvate kinase activators as a new approach for treating sickle cell disease. Blood. 2024 Mar 7; 143(10):866-871. doi:10.1182/blood/2023021167. PMID 38118071; PMCID: PMC10940061.

Quang T, Frey I, Xu J, Mostashari G, Conrey A, Parekh DS, Pierre Charles R, Hill B, Thein SL, Tromberg BJ; Longitudinal Characterization of Hemodynamic Changes with Multimodal Optical Techniques in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease Treated with Mitapivat. Blood 2023; 142 (Supplement 1): 2492. doi: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2023-174227

Parekh DS and Thein SL. "Hemolytic Anemia," in Rodgers GP and Young NS, eds. The Bethesda Handbook of Clinical Hematology, 5th edition; Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, Wolters Kluwer. Philadelphia, PA 2023: Chapter 3.

Reeves PT, Rogers PL, Hipp SJ, Zanetti RC, Echelmeyer S, Rees DJ, Parekh DS. The Sickle Cell Pain Action Plan: A low health literacy, pictographic tool to enhance self-management, and guideline concordance. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2022 Dec; 69(12)e29775. doi:10.1097/MPH.0000000000001939. PMID: 32925411.

asta LM, Zanetti RC, Parekh DS, Warwick AB, Lieuw K. A Retrospective Review of Mercaptopurine Metabolism Reveals High Rate of Patients With Suboptimal Metabolites Successfully Corrected With Allopurinol. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2021 Oct 1;43(7):e1003-e1009. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001939. PMID: 32925411.

Giamanco, NM, Cunningham BS, Klein LS, Parekh DS, Warwick AB, Lieuw K. Allopurinol Use During Maintenance Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Avoids Mercaptopurine-related Hepatotoxicity. Journal of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, 2016 March; 38(2): 147-151.

Contributor: Parekh D. Hematology and Oncology, Pediatric Surgery and Medicine for Hostile Environments, 2nd edition; Creamer Kevin & Fuenfer, Michael, M.’ Borden Institute, United States Army Medical Department, 2016.