Memorial Sloan Kettering pediatric hematologic oncologist Jaap-Jan Boelens

Jaap-Jan Boelens, MD, PhD

Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist and Bone Marrow Transplanter

Titles

Chief, Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Service; Richard J. O’Reilly Chair in Honor of Kevin Zoltan Merszei

Clinical Expertise

Cord Blood-Derived Cell Therapies, Rare Pediatric Blood Diseases, Lysosomal Storage Diseases, Immune-Reconstitution, and Pharmaco-Kinetics/Dynamics

Back to top
Share

New Patient Appointments

Scheduling a visit is easy. Click below or call us to get started.

Schedule an Appointment
212-639-8478
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., (Eastern time)
Accepted Insurance Providers

Dr. Boelens accepts the following list of insurance providers. Select your insurance provider to see more details.

Aetna

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

Aetna Medicare Advantage (City of NY retirees only, starting 9/1/23)

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield New York

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO PPO, POS

Blue Cross Health Plus

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Carrum Health

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): Supplemental

Cigna

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

Connecticare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem Essential

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

Empire Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO, DSN

Empire Essential

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Fidelis

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO

Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Fidelis Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

First Health

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Healthfirst

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, PPO

Healthsmart

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO

Horizon Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

Husky CT Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Magnacare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO

Straight NJ Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): Federal Government

Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): Supplemental

MVP

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO/OAP

Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

Payor Type: Other
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): TBD

Oscar

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO/EPO

Oxford

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, EPO

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Qualcare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

Tricare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

UMR

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS

United Healthcare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

Contact and Location

Locations map
Find a Convenient Location

Memorial Sloan Kettering has locations throughout New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Westchester. These locations offer many services, including screening, chemotherapy, and medical testing.

See all locations

About Me

Education

MD, University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands; PhD, University of Amsterdam/Academic Medical Center

Residencies

Pediatrics - Leiden University Medical Center/Juliana Kinderziekenhuis, Leiden, The Hague, Netherlands

Fellowships

Immunology – University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands; Oncology – Erasmus University Medical Center, Netherlands

Board Certifications

Pediatrics; Oncology (Netherlands)

I am a pediatric hematologic oncologist and Chief of the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Service. I specialize in bone marrow and cord blood transplantation to treat blood diseases in children and young adults. I have particular expertise caring for people with rare diseases, such as lysosomal storage disorders like Hurler’s disease and leukodystrophies like metachromatic leukodystrophy, adrenoleukodystrophy, and Krabbe disease. I am also part of a dedicated team of experts working to develop new treatments for our young patients. At MSK Kids, our goal is to better control children’s disease while improving their well-being, as well as that of their families.

Read more

Before coming to Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2018, I spent a decade developing an umbilical cord blood transplant program in the Netherlands that is now the largest in Europe. Cord blood transplants are a promising treatment for people who don’t have a suitable bone marrow match. I am continuing to build on this work by looking for ways to combine transplants with new cellular therapies. My goal is to raise the chance of eliminating disease while having less of an impact on my patients’ quality of life.

In my lab research, I feel passionate about finding better ways to help young people with blood disorders lead longer, healthier lives. We are developing advanced therapies made from cord blood that will target blood disorders at the cellular level. We are also creating mathematical models that can help us predict how a young person’s immune system will respond to these treatments. I want to take discoveries out of the lab and to the bedside to help my patients.

When I meet with patients and their families, they are often dealing with a lot of uncertainty. They have received a life-changing diagnosis and face questions about treatment, possible complications, the chance of responding to treatment, and how this experience will affect their family. I guide my patients and their families through these unknowns by giving them the time and space they need to ask me questions and process the information they hear. I try to be completely open and honest so my patients feel heard, respected, and cared for. We spend as much time together as needed to make sure this happens.

I guide my patients and their families through unknowns by giving them the time and space they need to ask me questions and process the information they hear.

-Dr. Boelens

Awards and Honors

  • Swammerdam Prize for Innovation in Cell Therapy/Oncology, The Dutch Society of Hematology (2015)

Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

Clinical Trials

Read more
Smiling doctors in the lab
Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

Search clinical trials

Research and Publications

Admiraal R, Nierkens S, de Witte MA, Petersen EJ, Fleurke GJ, Verrest L, Belitser SV, Bredius RG, Raymakers RA, Knibbe CA, Minnema MC, van Kesteren C, Kuball J, Boelens JJ. Association between anti-thymocyte globulin exposure and survival outcomes in adult unrelated haemopoietic cell transplantation: a retrospective, pharmacodynamic cohort analysis. Lancet Haematol. 2017 Apr;4(4):e183-e191. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(17)30029-7

Admiraal R, de Koning C, Lindemans CA, Bierings MB, Wensing AM, Versluys AB, Wolfs TF, Nierkens S, Boelens JJ. Viral Reactivations and Associated Outcomes in Context of Immune Reconstitution after Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017 Apr 6. pii: S0091-6749(17)30571-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.12.992.

Admiraal R, Lindemans CA, van Kesteren C, Bierings MB, Versluys AB, Nierkens S, Boelens JJ. Excellent T-cell reconstitution and survival provided ATG exposure is low or absent after pediatric cord blood transplantation. Blood 2016 Oct 4. pii: blood-2016-06-721936. PubMed PMID: 27702800.

Read more

Admiraal R, van Kesteren C, Jol-van der Zijde CM, Lankester AC, van Tol MJ, Knibbe CA, Bredius RG, Boelens JJ. Association between anti-thymocyte globulin exposure and CD4+ immune reconstitution in paediatric haemopoietic cell transplantation: a multicentre, retrospective pharmacodynamics cohort analysis. Lancet Haematol. 2015;2(5):e194-203

Bartelink I, Lalmohamed A, Elisabeth M van Reij, Christopher C Dvorak,Rada M Savic, Juliette Zwaveling, Robbert G Bredius, Antoine C Egberts, Marc Bierings, Peter Shaw, Christa E Nath, George Hempel, Marc Ansari,Maja Krajinovic, Yves Theoret, Michel Duval, MD; Ron J Keizer, PhD, Henrique Bittencourt, Moustapha Hassan, Tayfun Güng.r, Robert F Wynn, Paul Veys, Geoff D Cuvelier, Sarah Marktel, Robert Chiesa, Morton J Cowan, Mary A Slatter, Melisa K Stricherz, Cathryn Jennissen, Morris Kletzel, Janel R Long-Boyle, Jaap J Boelens, Association of Busulfan exposure with survival and toxicity after HCT  in Children and Young Adults: a Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Analysis Lancet Hematology 2016; 10.1016/S2352-3026(16)30114-4.

Spel L, Boelens JJ, van der Steen DM et al, Natural killer cells facilitate PRAME-specific T-cell reactivity against neuroblastoma. Oncotarget. 2015 Nov 3;6(34):35770-81.

Aldenhoven M, Wynn RF, Orchard PJ, O’Meara A, Veys P, Fischer A, Valayannopoulos V, Neven B, Rovelli A, Prasad VK, Tolar J, Allewelt H, Jones SA,  Parini R, Renard M, Bordon V, Wulffraat NM, de Koning TJ, Shapiro EG, Kurtzberg J, Boelens JJ. Long-term outcome of Hurler syndrome patients after hematopoietic  cell transplantation: an international multicenter study. Blood 2015 Mar 26;125(13):2164-72.

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Boelens’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

See all on PubMed

Disclosures

Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.

MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.

Jaap-Jan Boelens discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Advanced Clinical
    Provision of Services
  • Avrobio Inc
    Provision of Services
  • BlueRock Therapeutics
    Provision of Services
  • Equillium, Inc.
    Provision of Services
  • Medexus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Provision of Services
  • Omeros
    Provision of Services
  • Race Oncology Ltd
    Provision of Services
  • Sanofi US Services Inc.
    Provision of Services
  • Smart Immune SAS
    Provision of Services
  • Sobi - Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB
    Provision of Services

If you’re a patient at MSK and would like more information about your doctor’s external relationships, please talk with your doctor.

The information published here is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.

This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2021 through disclosure submission in spring 2022). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.

Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].


View all disclosures

Related topics: