Compassionate Care is a Family Affair

As a child, Jeffrey Dome, MD, PhD, loved biology. He devoured nonfiction books and entertained himself with chemistry sets. "I quickly figured out that knowledge really is power," he says. "The more you know, the more you can help people." His passion for a career in medicine followed.

As senior vice president of the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's National Hospital, Dr. Dome oversees care for children with cancer, immunologic and blood disorders. He is the Thomas Willson and Lenore Williams McKnew Professor of Pediatric Oncology.

As an internationally recognized expert on pediatric solid tumors, Dr. Dome leads pioneering research that makes a big difference in patients' lives. He cares for and guides families of children with cancer and provides lifesaving treatments. He oversees daily activities in the sanctuary that is the 4 East Unit, with a great deal of understanding, honesty and, sometimes, a hand to hold.

The idea of a career in community service runs deep in the Dome family. Lauren Dome, CPNP-PC, PMHS, Dr. Dome's wife, is a nurse practitioner at Children's National. The two met about 30 years ago while they both were working at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital in Connecticut. He was a resident. She was a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) nurse. "We shared in the care of a very sick patient recovering from congenital heart disease surgery," Dr. Dome says. "We both were drawn to the field and that common bond of wanting to serve and care for others in the community."

The couple has worked together at several other hospitals. Dr. Dome joined Children's National nearly 20 years ago. Lauren joined 15 years ago and works in Neurology.

In 2022, their daughter Amelia Dome, MSN, RN, came to Children's National as a nurse in the hematology-oncology unit. "I shadowed a nurse at Children's National when I was considering nursing school," says Amelia, who originally planned on a career in health policy. "One day we spent an hour helping a child take her medication. The nurse really got to know the child and was tremendously patient and kind. It made me want to give that kind of compassionate care in my everyday working life."