MUSC Children's Health Hematology Oncology at Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital

Dr. George M. Turco is an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). He graduated from medical school at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, NY. He remained in Buffalo for his residency training in General Pediatrics before moving south to complete his fellowship training in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Duke University. He won the Daigler Medical Education Award during residency, which was rewarded to the senior resident who best demonstrates a commitment to learning and caring for children and adolescents. Dr. Turco cares for children with cancers and blood disorders but primarily focuses on cancer. He does not specialize in a specific type of cancer because he enjoys treating all types, including solid tumors and blood cancers. He values strong communication and patient-centered care to build a trusting relationship with his patients and families. He understands how difficult cancer therapy can be from a physical and emotional standpoint and works hard to build a dedicated partnership with his patients and families. Dr. Turco is also devoted to medical education and is committed to teaching and guiding future medical professionals. His long-term goals are to contribute to the advancement of childhood cancer therapies.

Dr. Osama Abuhasheesh is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist who cares for children and young adults with a wide range of blood disorders and cancers. He has a special interest in bone marrow transplantation, cellular therapies, and emerging gene therapies for conditions such as sickle cell disease. His clinical interests also include complex non-malignant hematologic and immune dysregulation disorders, including aplastic anemia, bone marrow failure syndromes, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), primary immune deficiencies, and other immune-related hematologic conditions. Dr. Abuhasheesh earned his medical degree from Mu'tah Faculty of Medicine in Jordan. He completed his pediatric residency at Cleveland Clinic and fellowship training in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina. He now serves as an Assistant Professor and pediatric hematologist-oncologist at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, where he cares for children and adolescents facing serious and complex conditions. He believes exceptional pediatric care means supporting the whole child and family. He takes time to explain complex diagnoses in clear, compassionate language and partners closely with families in shared decision-making, ensuring they feel informed and supported throughout every stage of treatment. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Abuhasheesh is actively involved in medical education and research aimed at improving outcomes in pediatric hematology-oncology and immune disorders. His academic interests include immune regulation and cellular therapies, with prior laboratory research experience studying regulatory T cells (Tregs) and their translational applications. He has participated in nationally recognized medical education programs within the specialty, including the American Society of Hematology Medical Educators Institute (ASH MEI), and is committed to mentoring trainees and contributing to the continued advancement of pediatric hematology and transplant care.

Dr. Rhea Hans is a pediatric bone marrow transplant physician with a special focus on cellular and gene therapies. She cares for children with blood disorders, immune deficiencies, and both hematologic and solid malignancies. Her clinical interests include advancing access to bone marrow and stem cell transplantation as well as developing new treatment approaches through clinical trials. Dr. Hans completed her medical degree at St. George's University followed by residency training in pediatrics at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and fellowship training in pediatric hematology/oncology at Phoenix Children's Hospital. She went on to receive additional specialized training in pediatric bone marrow transplantation at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she developed expertise in cellular therapy and the use of gene therapy for inherited and acquired conditions. In her role at MUSC, Dr. Hans is excited to expand the pediatric bone marrow transplant and gene therapy programs, with the goal of offering children in South Carolina and beyond access to cutting-edge treatments close to home. She is particularly passionate about bringing novel clinical trials to her patients and working as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team to deliver the best possible outcomes. Outside of her clinical work, Dr. Hans is involved in community outreach and education to raise awareness about childhood cancers and the importance of bone marrow donation. She is committed to building strong relationships with families, providing compassionate care, and guiding them through every step of their child's treatment journey.

Dr. Andrew Picca is a physician in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. He graduated from Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in 2017, and completed his Pediatric Residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2020. He received his fellowship training in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology from The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children's Hospital in 2023. Dr. Picca's clinical focus is in classical hematology. He sees patients with a wide variety of blood, bleeding, and clotting disorders, with special interest in caring patients with different types of anemia and cytopenias. He has provided lectures on these topics at local and national forums. Dr. Picca is passionate about training the next generation of physicians and healthcare providers, and has academic focus in medical education. He received his Master of Arts in Biomedical Education from The Ohio State University, and has received grant funding for medical education focused research. He has participated in national programs tailored to medical education within the specialty of Pediatric Hematology Oncology. He is passionate about providing high quality, patient and family centered care to the community.