Titans of Transplant: Dr. Micah Skeens

In the next installment of ASTCT’s Titans of Transplant series, Dr. Micah Skeens, PhD, MS, CPNP-PC, is interviewed by Darren J. Johnson, PA. They dive into her story and background as a pediatric oncology nurse of over 20 years and current research interests and passions, including development of an app for medical adherence in transplant. They also discuss importance of mentorship in the field for APPs, the value in making a difference in patients’ lives, current inspirations and more.
About Darren J. Johnson
Darren J. Johnson, PA, is a physician assistant who has been working in the field of transplant since 2011. He got his start in medicine after his own medical scare which completely changed his career focus. He was initially enrolled in journalism school to become a sports anchor but required a bone marrow transplant for MDS which re-routed his future. Following transplant, he was inspired by the care he received to pursue a career in medicine. He has since worked in Seattle at Fred Hutch, in Nashville at Sarah Cannon, and now in Boston at Dana Farber – helping patients and families navigate the complexities of transplant via compassionate caregiving.
About Dr. Micah Skeens
Dr. Skeens (@maskeens) has been a pediatric oncology nurse for over 20 years, much of that career has been spent as a nurse practitioner caring for children and families undergoing bone marrow transplant. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Principal Investigator at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She continues to practice clinically as a nurse practitioner with the Embryonal Tumor Team. Dr. Skeens completed her master’s degree and advanced practice degree from Wright State University in 2003 and her PhD from Vanderbilt University in 2018. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at NCH in the Center of Biobehavioral Health.
Dr. Skeens’ federally-funded program of research is focused on digital health innovations to improve outcomes of bone marrow transplant patients and children with cancer with an emphasis on adherence and alleviating symptom burden. As PI, she has received numerous grants from national foundations and currently has a NINR funded K99/R00 to develop and evaluate an app to improve adherence to immunosuppressants following pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant. She serves in multiple leadership positions in national organizations including the PBMTC, APHON and COG. She has received several awards from the Children’s Oncology Group for her dedicated service and leadership.