Professor of Medicine and Oncology

Dr. Spivak is also Director of the Center for the Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders

Clinical/Academic Interests

The chronic myeloproliferative disorders, polycythemia vera, idiopathic myelofibrosis, essential thrombocytosis, hypereosinophilia, stocytosis; erythrocytosis and erythropoietin physiology

Research Interests

Dr. Spivak's research interests are focused on the chronic myeloproliferative disorders wiht particular emphasis on the molecular basis of these disorders and the means for distinguishing them both diagnostically and with respect to therapeutic intervention.  Using techniques to analyze gene expression in polycythemia vera stem cells, he has found that polycythemia vera patients can be distinguished from patients with erythrocytosis and also divided into two groups, those with an aggressive disease and those with a more indolent illness.  Dr. Spivak and his colleagues are also studying the role of specific molecular markers identified at Johns Hopkins and eslewhere with respect to the pathogenesis of polycythemia vera as well as its diagnosis.

Education/Training

• AB, Magna Cum Laude, Princeton University
• MD, Cornell University Medical College
• Internship and Residency, Osler
• Clinical Associate, National Cancer
• Senior Assistant Resident
• Fellow, Hematology Division, Johns Hopkins University
• Chief Medical Resident, Johns Hopkins University