Ellen Ritchie, MD

Ellen K. Ritchie, MD is assistant professor of medicine and a member of the Leukemia Program at the Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University and the New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.

Dr. Ritchie graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University and received her medical degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in New York City. She was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia campus. Dr. Ritchie completed her fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia campus. Dr. Ritchie's research interests are in the treatment of older patients with anemia anemia: (uh-NEE-mee-uh) A condition in which there is a shortage of red blood cells in the bloodstream. This causes a low red blood cell count. Symptoms of anemia are fatigue and tiredness. , cytopenias, myelodysplastic syndromes myelodysplastic syndromes: (my-eh-lo-diss-PLASS-tik SIN-dromez) A group of disorders where the bone marrow does not work well, and the bone marrow cells fail to make enough healthy blood cells. Myelo refers to the bone marrow. Dysplastic means abnormal growth or development. People with MDS have low blood cell count for at… , myeloproliferative disorders and acute leukemia. She is interested in finding better therapies and supportive care supportive care: Care given to improve the quality of life, or comfort, of a person with a chronic illness. Supportive care treats the symptoms rather than the underlying cause of a disease. The goal is to help the patient feel better. Patients with low blood counts may be given blood transfusions as supportive… strategies for older patients. Dr. Ritchie is the principal investigator on clinical trials clinical trials: Clinical research is at the heart of all medical advances, identifying new ways to prevent, detect or treat disease. If you have a bone marrow failure disease, you may want to consider taking part in a clinical trial, also called a research study. Understanding Clinical Trials Clinical… investigating new diagnostic techniques, supportive care strategies and therapeutics aimed at the older patient. She collaborates with investigators in the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology. She has been the author or co-author of many publications. She is interested in improving the medical care of older patients with hematologic malignancies.