Dr. Patricia ("Dr. Patti") Shearer is the Chief Medical Office of the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She holds board certification in General Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
She graduated from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed internship and residency in Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
Her first fellowship, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, was at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where she received the American Cancer Society Training Grant. Her second fellowship, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, was at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. There she became motivated to relieve the challenges posed by chronic illness in children on siblings and other family members.
Dr. Patti has held academic appointments at the University of Maryland (Professor and Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology); University of Tennessee; University of Florida; Tulane University; and the Alix School of Medicine at Mayo Clinic. She earned several awards for excellence in teaching and administration in these centers.
Through her practice, Vital Pediatrics for Complex Kids, LLC, she offers 3 services: pediatric palliative and supportive care by telehealth; evidence-based follow of survivors of pediatric, adolescent, and young adult malignancies; and inpatient consults in the WellStar Health System. She is a faculty member at WellStar to teach pediatric competencies to adult fellows in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Cancer Survivorship: Dr. Patti is currently a Tri-Chair of the Survivorship Working Group of the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium. She founded the multi-disciplinary Cancer Survivor Program at the University of Florida. This initiative yielded grants, publications, and presentations with international scope. As both a pediatric oncologist and audiologist, she was panelist on the US Food and Drug Administration Pediatric Sub-Committee of the Oncology Drug Advisory Committee to review drugs to reduce hearing loss as a late effect of cancer treatment. She served as Co-Chair of the Auditory Hearing Late Effects Task Force of Children’s Oncology Group, the State of Florida Survivorship Taskforce Initiative, and the Survivorship and Late Effects Working Group of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology /Oncology and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Patti enjoys the night sky, the study of theology, and classical music. She was a vocal performance major at Baylor University, and subsequently sang comprimario (supporting) roles as a mezzo soprano with the New Orleans Opera. These include the Third Lady in The Magic Flute, Kate in Madama Butterfly, and the Page in Salome.
Education
- Graduate School: Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, Master of Science in Audiology
- Medical School: LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana, Doctor of Medicine
- Internship and Residency in Pediatrics: Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
- First Fellowship, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
- Second Fellowship, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Pediatric Track: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
Board Certification
- General Pediatrics
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Honors and Awards
- Member, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
- Co-recipient, Pediatrics Award, LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans
- Recipient, American Cancer Society Training Grant, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee (twice)
- Teaching Awards: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (twice), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee; Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana; Ochsner Health Systems in New Orleans, Louisiana (twice)
- Chairman's Award: Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, Louisiana
Memberships
- Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
- American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
- Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Curriculum Vitae
Get to Know Dr. Patti
Dr. Patti has a love for family, teaching, and travel.
