Jill de Jong, MD, PhD

UChicago Faculty Physicians

Jill de Jong, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics Director, Pediatric Cancer Risk and Bone Marrow Failure Clinic
Director, Pediatric Hematology
Director, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program

My name is Dr. Jill de Jong. I'm a pediatric hematologist oncologist and the Director of Pediatric Hematology at Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago. My main practice area is hematology, meaning blood diseases. So that includes red blood cells and white blood cells and platelets, bleeding problems, clotting problems, and all aspects of that, including hematologic malignancies like leukemia.

I was mostly inspired by my father, who was a scientist. So I worked in my father's lab when I was in high school and loved talking about science, loved talking about biology and how the body works and what can go wrong and what can cause disease.

And because of that love of science but also a desire to take care of people and help to heal disease, I was inspired to do an M.D. PhD program when I was-- after I graduated from college. So I have training in cancer biology, which is my PhD, and also expertise in hematology.

Comer is a really amazing place filled with people at all levels, doctors, nurses, parking staff, people at the front desk, who really are passionate about caring for children. I find at the University of Chicago, there's this inherent curiosity in people, which I love because I love being in this environment of just trying to understand what's going on and how we can try and make somebody's disease better.

Sometimes that's really easy. And sometimes it's really difficult. And being surrounded with people who are also curious and also interested in trying to move forward knowledge about medicine is really inspiring.

I love caring for children. When I was in medical school, I knew I wanted to be a cancer doctor. But I didn't know for sure if I wanted to do medicine or pediatrics, adult medicine or pediatrics. And my friends said when I chose pediatrics, oh, we always knew you were going to be a pediatrician.

So I think part of it is my personality, that I love taking care of children. I love taking care of children who are ill so that they can become better but also taking care of their whole family and recognizing that a child is not just an isolated patient. They are in the context of their parents and their siblings and their grandparents and their school. And I want them to be living their life to the fullest. But I love their energy. I love how they are kids even when they're sick. Kids are kids even when they're sick.

Jill de Jong, MD, PhD, treats children with all types of cancers and blood diseases, as well as hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. She has specialized expertise in: hematology, including disorders of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets; autoimmune blood diseases; bleeding and clotting disorders; and genetic (inherited) blood diseases.

Dr. de Jong's research focuses on understanding genetic syndromes that predispose patients to bone marrow failure and/or cancer. By studying known genetic mutations that lead to cancer and uncovering new cancer predisposition syndromes, her work examines the mechanisms that cause cancer in order to improve cancer therapies. Through her research, she aims to optimize early detection, treatment, and, ultimately, prevention of cancer and bone marrow disorders.

Locations

 

Areas of Expertise

  • Hemoglobinopathies
  • Bleeding Disorders
  • Autoimmune Blood Diseases
  • Immunodeficiency
  • Anemias
  • Coagulation Disorders

Board Certifications

  • Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
  • Pediatrics

Memberships & Medical Societies

  • Association of Pediatric Program Directors
  • American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
  • American Society of Hematology

Practicing Since

  • 1999

Languages Spoken

  • English

Medical Education

  • University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Residency

  • Children's Hospital Boston

Fellowship

  • Children's Hospital Boston

Other Grad Education

  • University of Wisconsin,PhD

  • Aetna HMO (specialists only)
  • Aetna POS
  • Aetna PPO
  • BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only)
  • BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only)
  • BCBS PPO
  • Cigna HMO
  • Cigna POS
  • Cigna PPO
  • CountyCare *see insurance page
  • Aetna Better Health *see insurance page
  • Medicare
  • Multiplan PPO
  • PHCS PPO
  • United Choice Plus POS/PPO
  • United Options (PPO)
  • United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only)
  • United W500 Emergent Wrap
  • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • BCBS Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Choice PFFS
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus HMO
  • United Choice HMO (specialists only)
  • University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP)

Our list of accepted insurance providers is subject to change at any time. You should contact your insurance company to confirm UChicago Medicine participates in their network before scheduling your appointment. If your insurance company is not listed here, or if you have any other questions, please contact Managed.Care@uchospitals.edu.

Why does this provider not have a star rating?

Our goal is to provide our patients and visitors with correct and useful information. We only post provider satisfaction information from clinic surveys when they are returned from patients.

This provider has not had surveys returned that meet the necessary sample size

About Our Star Ratings and Comments:

Randomly selected patients are sent patient satisfaction surveys after their visits. We get thousands of survey responses each year. The responses are used to improve patient experience and recognize staff members for the care they provide. Patient survey responses are also used to make star ratings for each provider.

For the star ratings and comments, all feedback on the provider web page is posted as it was given from patients. Comments that do not apply, risk patient privacy, or are not appropriate are not posted. Star ratings and comments come from a number of survey questions. A star rating is not given if a provider only has a small number of survey responses.

Comer Children's Hospital - Hyde Park

Request an Appointment at Comer Children's Hospital - Hyde Park

To Refer a Patient

Refer a Patient