Houston Methodist Division of Benign Hematology

Our nationally and internationally recognized experts in the industry are sought out, particularly for the most complex cases. We are among the most well-versed in both Houston and the nation in the types of disorders that many hematologists have yet to treat. Our team includes part-time collaborators from the Cancer Center. 

Half of the referrals to our division come from hematologists at other institutions and community clinics. Similarly sized clinics may see three or four PNH patients at a time, while we treat roughly 25 patients at the same time. 

Our faculty participate in organizations such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, the American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association. 

Jenny Petkova, MD leads robust research efforts in congenital coagulopathies and blood clotting disorders and has worked on more claims relating to venous embolism and thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and bleeding disorders than other providers in the area. 

Our Faculty ➝   Our Physicians ➝ 

We conduct cutting-edge research on platelet and anemia disorders, and our researchers regularly publish on their numerous studies. Recent clinical studies include participation in pivotal trials of novel platelet-stimulating hormones, anticoagulants and iron-chelators, NASA-funded anemia studies (neocytolysis), erythropoietin research, and trials for drugs like crizanlizumab and deferasirox. 

Our clinicians work with the latest life-changing medications and therapies, including recent registry studies on myeloproliferative neoplasms. We have been a study center for multinational research leading to the approval of practice-changing drugs. Our innovative research has even been conducted on anemia in astronauts for NASA.  

Lawrence Rice, MD, Distinguished Chair in Hematology, is considered a world expert on heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and frequently gives lectures and chairs national educational symposia and CME events. Dr. Rice has also received numerous teaching awards, including induction in the inaugural class of the Baylor Medicine Educator Hall of Fame and the Hematology Honorary Fellow (Outstanding Teacher) Award from graduating MD Anderson Hematology/Oncology fellows. 

We prioritize the education and training of the next generation of hematologists, including residents, subspecialty fellows and medical students.  

Our training leads students to academic medical centers and private practices across the country, where they are recognized as pillars of their communities. Our faculty receive numerous teaching awards such as the Edward C. Lynch Outstanding Teaching Award and Houston Methodist GME Teacher of the Year Award. 

Experts in our division train students in the growing Internal Medicine Residency program. ACGME-accredited Hematology-Oncology Fellowship students complete rotations with us as part of their didactic curriculum, which requires six months of benign hematology training. Once a month, fellows do rotations at Legacy Community Health, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) to treat a variety of benign hematologic diseases in underserved populations. 

Our training footprint is expansive and extends to MD Anderson Cancer Center fellows and Texas A&M University medical students. Faculty in this division frequently give lectures and chair national educational symposia and CME events.