Professor
Director, Hematology Section

 

Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Dr. Lebensburger is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania for undergraduate training and the Nova Southeastern Medical School. After his pediatric residency at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida, Dr. Lebensburger completed fellowship training in Pediatric Hematology Oncology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. His primary clinical focus involves caring for children with blood disorders, including sickle cell disease, thalassemia, bleeding disorders, disorders of iron metabolism, and marrow failure syndromes.  

In addition to his clinical care, Dr. Lebensburger focuses on linking knowledge from basic science to clinical care (translational research) especially in sickle cell disease. Currently, Dr. Lebensburger is the primary investigator for two prestigious research grants from the National Institutes of Health and American Society of Hematology to better understand kidney disease in patients with sickle cell disease.  While pain is the hallmark clinical complication of sickle cell disease, many young adult patients suffer from early development of kidney failure.  Dr. Lebensburger is evaluating risk factors for progression to kidney disease.  Dr. Lebensburger has also received funding from the National Institutes of Health to evaluate the impact of hydroxyurea in children with sickle cell disease.  Finally, Dr. Lebensburger is working with the UAB pain experts to develop new strategies to care for children with sickle cell pain.