Dr. Ajay Kandra MD

Dr. Rikin Kartikbhai Shah

Speciality: Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
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About Dr. Rikin Kartikbhai Shah

Dr. Rikin Kartikbhai Shah, M.D., is a board-certified pediatric hematologist-oncologist specializing in the care of children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and blood disorders. He practices at the Haley Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and is affiliated with Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center. Dr. Shah has over 15 years of clinical experience and is recognized for his expertise in advanced therapies, including stem cell transplantation and cellular therapies such as CAR-T treatment. Dr. Shah earned his medical degree from Smt. N.H.L. Municipal Medical College in Ahmedabad, India. He completed his pediatric residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and went on to pursue fellowship training in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center. He further specialized with an additional fellowship in Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Shah is actively involved in research and academic medicine, with multiple peer-reviewed publications and participation in clinical studies. He is a member of leading professional organizations, including the American Society of Hematology and the Children’s Oncology Group, reflecting his commitment to advancing pediatric cancer care.

Certifications / Awards / Recognitions

Presbyterian Health Foundation Pediatric Fellow
Presbyterian Health Foundation/Children's Hospital Foundation (2015-2017)
Outstanding Poster Presentation
OUHSC Pediatric Research Day(2017)
Outstanding Poster Presentation
OUHSC Pediatric Research Day(2016)
Dean's Scholarly Achievement Award for Peer-Reviewed Scientific Publication
Texas Tech University Health Science Center at Amarillo(2014)
Dean's Scholarly Achievement Award for Peer-Reviewed Scientific Publication
Texas Tech University Health Science Center at Amarillo(2013)
First Place in Poster Presentation
Texas Tech University Health Science Center at Amarillo(2013)
Travel Grant Award for Kidney Week
American Society of Nephrology(2012)
Dean's Scholarly Achievement Award for Peer-Reviewed Scientific Publication
Texas Tech University Health Science Center at Amarillo(2012)
American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
American Board of Pediatrics(2019 - Present)
American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics
American Board of Pediatrics(2019 - Present)

Professional Experience

Institution Location Duration Position
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando Health Orlando, FL, United States 2022 – Present Director of Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Haley Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center Oklahoma City, OK, United States 2018 - 2022 Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center Oklahoma City, OK, United States 2020 - 2022 Interim Director of Pediatric Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, College of Medicine
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center Oklahoma City, OK, United States 2020 - 2022 Associate Director of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, Jimmy Everest Section
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center Oklahoma City, OK, United States 2020 - 2022 Director of Ambulatory Stem Cell Service, Jimmy Everest Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Education & Training

Institution Location Year Program
Smt. N.H.L Municipal Medical College Ahmedabad, India 2003 - 2009 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
Texas Tech University Health Science Center at Amarillo Amarillo, TX, United States 2011 - 2014 Pediatric Resident, Department of Pediatrics
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center Oklahoma City, OK, United States 2014 - 2017 Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellow, Department of Pediatrics
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center Oklahoma City, OK, United States 2014 - 2017 Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellow, Department of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, United States 2017 - 2018 Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation Fellow, Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Research & Publications

Long-Term Organ Function After HCT for SCD: A Report From the Sickle Cell Transplant Advocacy and Research Alliance
Authors: Stenger E, Xiang Y, Wetzel M, Gillespie S, Chellapandian D, Shah R, Arnold SD, Bhatia M, Chaudhury S, Eckrich MJ, Kanter J, Kasow KA, Krajewski J, Nickel RS, Ngwube AI, Olson TS, Rangarajan HG, Wobma H, Guilcher GMT, Horan JT, Krishnamurti L, Shenoy S, Abraham A..
Transplant Cell Ther. • 2023
Type 2 innate lymphoid cells from Id1 transgenic mice alleviate skin manifestations of graft-versus-host disease
Authors: Srinivasan A, Bajana S, Pankow A, Yuen CH, Shah RK, Sun XH.
DBMC Immunology • 2021
IDH1 mutated acute myeloid leukemia in a child with metaphyseal chondromatosis with D-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria
Authors: Srinivasan A, Zhou Y, Scordino TA, Prabhu SG, Wierenga AM, Simon G, Wierenga KJ, Thompson JC, Shah RK, Sinha A.
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology • 2020
Simultaneous B and T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias in zebrafish driven by transgenic MYC: implications for oncogenesis and lymphopoiesis
Authors: Borga C, Park G, Foster C, Burroughs-Garcia J, Marchesin M, Shah RK, Hasan A, Ahmed ST, Bresolin S, Batchelor L, Scordino TA, Miles RR, Te Kronnie G, Regens JL, Frazer JK.
Leukemia • 2019
Encephalocraniocutaneous Lipomatosis
Authors: Bavle AA, Shah RK, Gross N, Gavula T, Ruiz-Elizalde AR, Wierenga KJ, McNall-Knapp R.
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology • 2021
A novel homozygous VPS45 p.P468L mutation leading to severe congenital neutropenia with myelofibrosis
Authors: Shah RK, Munson M, Wierenga KJ, Pokala HR, Newburger PE, Crawford DF.
Pediatric Blood & Cancer• 2017
Molecular genetics of childhood, adolescent and young adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Miles RR, Shah RK, Frazer JK.
British Journal of Haematology • 2016
N-acetylcysteine renoprotection in methotrexate induced nephrotoxicity and its effects on B-cell lymphoma
Singh R, Shah RK, Turner C, Regueira O, Vasylyeva TL.Miles RR, Shah RK, Frazer JK.
Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology • 2015
N-acetylcysteine rescue protocol for nephrotoxicity in children caused by ifosfamide
Hanly L, Rieder MJ, Huang SH, Vasylyeva TL, Shah RK, Regueira O, Koren G.
Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology • 2013
Multiple liver abscesses in a child
Shah RK, Sethi VK, Bridges WJ, Abiodun JO.
Open Journal of Pediatrics • 2012
Onychomadesis secondary to penicillin allergy in a child
Shah RK, Uddin M, Fatunde OJ.
The Journal of Pediatrics • 2012
Two patients with an anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody syndrome-like presentation and negative results of testing for autoantibodies
Shah RK, Veerapandiyan A, Winchester S, Gallentine W, Mikati MA.
Pediatric Neurology• 2011
Preservation of Pulmonary Function Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplant for Sickle Cell Disease: A STAR Study
Horan F, Bendiak G, Abraham A, Liu K, Gillespie S, Chellapandian D, Shah RK, Bhatia M, Chaudhury S, Eckrich M, Jaroscak J, Kasow K, Krajewski J, Nguwube A, Horan J, Krishnamurti L, Shenoy S, Guilcher G, Stenger E.
Transplantation and Cellular Therapy• 2023
Donor Hemoglobin Genotype Does Not Impact Outcomes Following Matched Related Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Sickle Cell Disease: A STAR Study
Stenger E, John TD, Chellapandian D, Shah RK, Gillespie S, Xiang Y, Liu K, Bhatia M, Guilcher GMT, Jaroscak J, Kasow KA, Krajewski J, Ngwube AI, Rangarajan HG, Horan JT, Krishnamurti L, Shenoy S, Abraham A.
Blood• 2023
Regimen Intensity and Age Affect Transplant-Related Outcomes after Matched Related Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Sickle Cell Disease: A STAR Registry Study
John TD, Chellapandian D, Shah RK, Gillespie S, Liu K, Xiang Y, Bhatia M, Chaudhury S, Eckrich MJ, Guilcher GMT, Jaroscak J, Kasow KA, Krajewski J, Ngwube AI, Olson TS, Rangarajan HG, Horan JT, Krishnamurti L, Shenoy S, Abraham A, Stenger E.
Blood• 2023
Recovery of innate lymphoid cells after allogeneic stem cell transplant: A single institution pilot study
Srinivasan A, Shah RK.
The Journal of Immunology• 2020
Retrospective Review of Use of Individualized Dosing of Rabbit Anti-Thymocyte Globulin on Outcomes in Pediatric Post Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Patients
Srinivasan A, Shah RK, Anderson M, Stubblefield A, Admiraal R, Boelens J-J, Crawford DF.
BBMT• 2019
Decreasing the Rate of Asparaginase Reactions due to Hyperammonemia
McNall-Knapp R, Sims K, Shah RK, Mazzone S, Peek L, Howard S.
Pediatric Blood and Cancer• 2017