Meet Dr. Kenneth M. Heym

Dr. Heym knew early on that he wanted to work with children who were facing significant challenges. The field of Oncology has provided an opportunity to form meaningful relationships with patients and their families, and to provide support during times of great need. He realizes that parents come to him with the most important thing in their lives: their children. He is honored and humbled by this responsibility and has dedicated his career to delivering cutting-edge, state-of-the-art care to the children seen at Cook Children's.

As Principal Investigator for the clinical trials treating leukemia and lymphoma through the Children's Oncology Group, Dr. Heym has helped coordinate the extensive clinical oncology research being performed at Cook Children's. He also leads joint research efforts and treatment protocols with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. These collaborations have allowed patients in the Fort Worth and surrounding areas access to the most sophisticated, research-driven therapies available for children with leukemia. He also spearheaded Cook Children's membership in the Therapeutic Advances in Childhood Leukemia and Lymphoma consortium which has provided access to Phase I experimental trials to our patients with relapsed leukemia and lymphoma.

In addition to his work in oncology, Dr. Heym has established the Cook Children's Vascular Anomalies Clinic. This multidisciplinary clinic provides comprehensive care to children and young adults with tumors and malformations of the vascular system. Dr. Heym has been a member of the Vascular Anomalies Special Interest Group through the American Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology since its inception.

Dr. Heym is originally from Long Island, New York, but he says he "got to Texas as quickly as I could." He lives with his very patient and understanding wife, and his three little Texans, who used to want to be a doctor like their daddy, but now want to be like Doc McStuffins.

Dr. Heym, the nurses, medical assistant, child life specialist were all amazing! We always receive great care when going for appointments! So grateful for such caring and compassionate individuals that care for my son! Thank you just doesn't seem adequate to describe my gratitude for such a great team! – Patient family

Services

  • General hematology and oncology diagnosis and care
  • Inpatient and outpatient services

Reviews

Average rating:

4,9
Questions were addressed
4,9
4,9 (44)
Provider explained things clearly
4,9
4,9 (44)
Likelihood of recommending this provider
4,9
4,9 (44)
Trust/confidence in physicians
4,9
4,9 (44)

What our families say

  • octubre 30, 2025

    To all the Hematology and Oncology staff who worked together are very friendly, I thank you very much for your attention, especially to Dr Heym

  • octubre 30, 2025

    The Dr and his staff very friendly and informative and trying to always use the best communication always pending from my girl, thank you very much

  • octubre 01, 2025

    Everyone was super nice and easy to talk to. They made a point to include [...] in everything and answer her questions. I really enjoyed how thorough the nurse was, how easy it was to communicate with the doctor and [...] really enjoyed the sonogram technology assistant!

  • octubre 01, 2025

    My daughter stated people like these people are the reason she wants to go into the pediatric field, so she can help little child but make it a safe and happy environment for them like they did her.

  • septiembre 28, 2025

    The staff is very polite and friendly

  • septiembre 28, 2025

    Dr Heym his colleagues and overall staff is great.

  • agosto 21, 2025

    Dr. Heym is an amazing communicator and Is very genuine, clear and warm in explaining everything.

  • julio 23, 2025

    Everything was great!!!

  • julio 17, 2025

    Everything was great!

  • julio 17, 2025

    Everyone was so friendly and helpful!

  • julio 04, 2025

    What a brilliant team. We couldn't have been more pleased and grateful for a chance to have them assess our child's health condition. We are thankful we can receive future treatment there!

  • mayo 05, 2025

    Staff has been amazing.

  • mayo 05, 2025

    Dr Heym, thank you for listening to us. Thank you for springing into action for our son and giving us the answers we were looking for. They weren't the answers we hoped for but the transparency built our trust in the hospital. Thank you for getting our baby seen and admitted with urgency.

  • marzo 20, 2025

    [...], Dr. Heym, [...], and [...] made our visit great. [...] did amazing trying to help us get in to the home health/orthotics clinic. She did everything she could.

  • marzo 15, 2025

    Clinic was very clean and staff very friendly!

  • enero 31, 2025

    Very pleasant

  • enero 23, 2025

    We love Dr Heym and [...]. The infusion staff is always so nice

  • diciembre 25, 2024

    DR H is great with [...]. He makes her relax and is helping her learn to advocate for herself

Publications

Publications:
  • Allen, C., Peters, T., Price, J., Tsz-Kwong Man, C., Heym, K., Merad, M., McClain, K. (2011). BRAF mutations are identified in CD207+ cells in LCH lesions. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 56(6), 920.
  • Allison-Ottey, S., Ferguson, R. P., Heym, K. (1999). Characteristics of AIDS in older patients: A follow-up study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 47(6), 764-765.
  • Allison-Ottey S, Ferguson, RP, Ryan P, Heym, K. Markowitz J. Abstract: Demographic and Clinical Features of AIDS in the Elderly: A Follow-Up Study 1993-1995. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1997 Sept;45(9):S79.
  • Averitt, A.W., Heym, K., Akers, L., Castro-Silva, F., Ray, A. (2018). Sinus Histiocytosis with Massive Lymphadenopathy (Rosai Dorfman Disease): Diagnostic and Treatment Modalities for the Rare Entity Revisited. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, May;40(4):e198-e202.
  • Basha, R., Sabnis, N., Heym, K., Bowman, W. P., Lacko, A. G. (2014). Targeted nanoparticles for pediatric leukemia therapy. Frontiers in Oncology, 4, 101-101. doi:10.3389/fonc.2014.00101
  • Berres, M., Lim, K. P. H., Peters, T., Price, J., Takizawa, H., Salmon, H., Idoyaga, J., Ruzo, A., Lupo, P.J., Hicks, M.J., Shih, A., Simko, S.J., Abhyankar, H., Chakraborty, R., Leboeuf, M., Beltrão, M., Lira, S.A., Heym, K.M., Clausen, B.E., Bigley, V., Collin, M., Manz, M.G., McClain, K., Merad, M., Allen, C. E. (2014). BRAF-V600E expression in precursor versus differentiated dendritic cells defines clinically distinct LCH risk groups. The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 211(4), 669-683. doi:10.1084/jem.20130977
  • Burke, M. J., Brown, P., Gore, L., Sposto, R., Bhojwani, D., Chang, B. H., Dubois S.G., Gaynon, P.S., Glade-Bender, J., Heym, K.M., Sulis, M.L., Pollard, J.A., Verma, A., Huynh, V. (2014). Invasive candida infections in pediatric patients treated on the pilot study of decitabine and vorinostat with chemotherapy for relapsed ALL: A report from the therapeutic advances in childhood leukemia & lymphoma (TACL) consortium. Blood, 124(21)
  • Burke, M.J., Kostadinov, R., Sposto, R., Gore, L., Kelley, S.M., Rabik, C., Trepel, J.B., Lee, M.J., Yuno, A., Lee, S., Bhojwani, D., Jeha, S., Chang, B.H., Sulis, M.L., Hermiston, M.L., Gaynon, P., Huynh, V., Verma, A., Gardner, R., Heym, K.M., Dennis, R.M., Ziegler, D.S., Laetsch, T.W., Oesterheld, J.E., Dubois, S.G., Pollard, J.A., Glade-Bender, J., Cooper, T.M., Kaplan, J.A., Farooqi, M.S., Yoo, B., Guest, E., Wayne, A.S., Brown, P.A. (2020). Decitabine and Vorinostat with Chemotherapy in Relapsed Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A TACL Pilot Study. Clinical Cancer Research 2020 Jan 22.
  • Goldman, S., Hochberg, J., Barth, M., El-Mallawany, N., Harrison, L., Nickerson, B., Heym, K., Perkins, S.L., Miles, R., Shiramizu, B., Cairo, M. S. (2015). Safety and efficacy of intrathecal (IT) liposomal cytarabine (L-ara-C) in children, adolescent and young adult (CAYA) patients with de-novo mature B-cell lymphoma/leukemia (MBLL). British Journal of Haematology, 171, 29-30.
  • Gottschalk, S., Heym, K., Ratnayake, M., Vanin, E.F., Heslop, H.E., Rooney, C.M. Genetically modified lymphoblastoid cell lines enable the generation of LMP1- and LMP2-specific CTL for the adoptive immunotherapy of EBV positive Hodgkin's disease. Keystone Symposium 2004: Immune Evasion. Abstract Book, p.135.
  • Gressett S, Trinkman H, Heym, K. Musculoskeletal Toxicity of Imatinib in Pediatric Patients: A Single Institution Experience. Abstract and Poster, Cook Children's Medical Center Research Day 2009.
  • Heym, K.M., Gressett Ussery, S.M., Trinkman, H., Philpot, L. M. (2015). Nonhematologic toxicity of imatinib mesylate in pediatric patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia: A predominance of musculoskeletal pain. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 37(2), e111-e113. doi:10.1097/MPH.0000000000000277
  • Heym, K., Ratnayake, M., Hicks, J., Horowitz, M., Gottschalk, S., Rooney, C.M. Survivin-specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes for the Adoptive Immunotherapy of Pediatric Sarcomas. Abstract, Baylor College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics Fellow's Day, 2004.
  • Hill, R., Bricker, M., Bashore, L., Rapisand, S., Heym, KM, Hamby, T. (2018). Weight gain in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with Down Syndrome. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.Aug;40(6):487-488.
  • Hill, R., Hamby, T., Bashore, L., Rapisand, S., Galipp, K., Heym, K., Bowman, W.P. (2018). Early nutrition intervention attenuates weight gain for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients in maintenance therapy. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. Mar;40(2):104-110.
  • Hochberg, J., Goldman, S., Barth, M., Shi, Q., Klejmont, L., Harrison, L., Basso, J., Chu, Y., Islam, H., Gerard, P., Oesterheld, J., Heym, K., Kirov, I., Drachtman, R., Harker-Murray, P., Perkins, S., Miles, R., Shiramizu, B., Cairo, M. (2020). Final Report of Reduced Anthracycline Dose Intensity with the Addition of Dose Dense Rituximab in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with de Novo Good Risk Mature B-cell Lymphoma. ASH abstract/poster 2020.
  • Inaba, H., Rubnitz, J. E., Coustan-Smith, E., Li, L., Furmanski, B. D., Mascara, G. P., Heym, K.M., Christensen, R., Onciu, M., Shurtleff, S.A., Pounds, S.B., Pui, C.-H., Ribeiro, R.C., Campana, D., Baker, S. D. (2011). Phase I pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib in combination with clofarabine and cytarabine in pediatric relapsed/refractory leukemia. Journal of Clinical Oncology: Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 29(24), 3293-3300. doi:10.1200/JCO.2011.34.7427
  • Ledbetter A, Bayles A, Brown L, Heym, K. Obesity and Changes in Body Mass Index in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients on the Total XV Protocol, February 2004-present. Abstract and Poster, Cook Children's Medical Center Research Day 2009.
  • Leen, A., Ratnayake, M., Foster, A., Heym, K., Ahmed, N., Rooney, C. M., Gottschalk, S. (2007). Contact-activated monocytes: Efficient antigen presenting cells for the stimulation of antigen-specific T cells. Journal of Immunotherapy, 30(1), 96-107.
  • Lim, K. P., Peters, T. L., Berres, M., Price, J., Takizawa, H., Lupo, P., Hicks M.J., Shih, A., Simko, III S.J., Heym, K.M., Bigley, V., Collin, M.P., Manz, M.G., McClain, K., Merad, M., Allen, C. E. (2013). Hematopoietic stem cells and circulating myelomonocytic precursors with BRAF-V600E are identified in high-risk patients and define LCH as a myeloid neoplasia. Blood, 122(21)
  • Locatelli, F., Whitlock, J.A., Peters, C., Chen-Santel, C., Chia, V., Dennis, R.M., Heym, K.M., Katz, A.J., Kelsh, M.A., Sposto, R., Tu, H., Tuglus, C.A., Verma, A., Vinti, L., Wilkes, J.J., Zubarovskaja, N., Zugmaier, G., von Stackelberg, A., Sun, W. (2020). Blinatumomab versus historical standard therapy in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory Ph-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2020 Feb 24.
  • Karol, S.E., Cooper, T.M., Mead, P.E., Crews, K.R., Panetta, L.C., Alexander, T.B., Taub, J.W., Lacayo, N.J., Heym, K.M., Kuo, D.J., Schiff, D.E., Bhojwani, D., Ge, Y., Klco, J.M., Ribeiro, R.C., Inaba, H., Pui, C.H., Rubnitz, J.E. (2020). Safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of panobinostat in children, adolescents, and young adults with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer 2020 Aug 18.
  • McClain, K.L., Picarsic, J., Chakraborty, R., Zinn, D., Lin, H., Abhyankar, H., Scull, B., Shih, A., Lim, K.P.H., Eckstein, Ol, Lubega, J., Peters, T.L., Olea, W., Burke, T., Ahmed, N., Hicks, M.J., Tran, B., Jones, J., Dauser, R., Jeng, M., Baiocchi, R., Schiff, D., Goldman, S, Heym, K.M., Wilson, H., Carcamo, B., Kumar, A., Rodriguez-Galindo, C., Whipple, N.S., Campbell, P., Murdoch, G., Kofler, J., Heales, S., Malone, M., Woltjer, R., Quinn, J.F., Orchard, P., Kruer, M.C., Jaffe, R., Manz, M.G., Lira, S.A., Parsons, D.W., Merad, M., Man, T.K., Allen, C.E. (2018). CNS Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: Common hematopoietic origin for LCH-associated neurodegeneration and mass lesions. Cancer Jun 15;124(12):2607-2620.
  • Mitre, V., Heym, K., Clark, G.D., Venkatramani, R. (2019). Neurocutaneous Melanocytosis and Leptomeningeal Melanoma. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 2019 Nov 22.
  • Murray, J., Akers, L., Heym, K., Biegel, J. (2012). Sequential childhood neoplasms-leukemia following central nervous system tumors. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 58(7), 1056.
  • Nguyen, R., Wu, H., Pounds, S., Inaba, H., Ribeiro, R.C., Cullins, D., Rooney, B., Bell, T., Lacayo, N.J., Heym, K., Degar, B., Schiff, D., Janssen, W.E., Triplett, B., Pui, C.H., Leung, W., Rubnitz, J.E. (2019). A phase II clinical trial of adoptive transfer of haploidentical natural killer cells for consolidation therapy of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia. J Immunother Cancer Mar 20;7(1):81.
  • Peters, T. L., Chris Man, T., Price, J., George, R., Lim, P. H., Heym, K. M., Merad, M., McClain, K.L., Allen, C. E. (2011). Frequent BRAF V600E mutations are identified in CD207+ cells in LCH lesions, but BRAF status does not correlate with clinical presentation of patients or transcriptional profiles of CD207+ cells. Blood, 118(21).
  • Pierce, J.M., LaCroix, P., Heym, K., Bowman, W.P., Margraf, L., Iglesias, J., Ray, A. (2017). Pleuropulmonary Blastoma: A single-center case series of 6 patients. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Nov;39(8):e419-e422.
  • Rubnitz, J.E., Lacayo, N.J., Inaba, H., Heym, K., Ribeiro, R.C., Taub, J., McNeer, J., Degar, B., Schiff, D., Yeoh, A.E., Coustan-Smith, E., Wang, L., Triplett, B., Raimondi, S.C., Kico, J., Choi, J., Pounds, S., Pui, C.H. (2019). Clofarabine can replace anthracyclines and etoposide in remission induction therapy for childhood acute myeloid leukemia: The AML08 multicenter, randomized phase III trial. J Clin Onc 37.
  • Simko, S. J., Berres, M., Lim, K. P., Peters, T., Price, J., Lupo, P. J., Hicks, M.J., Shih, A., Heym, K., McClain, K.L., Merad, M., Sarabia, S., Lopez-Terrada, D., Allen, C. E. (2014). Detectable BRAF-V600E mutation in circulating peripheral blood of patients with langerhans cell histiocytosis correlates with risk organ involvement and residual disease. Cancer Research, 74(20)
  • Sun, W., Malvar, J., Sposto, R., Verma, A., Wilkes, J. J., Dennis, R. M., Heym, K.M., Eckroth, E., Vandergiesse, J., Gaynon, P.S., Wayne, A.S., Whitlock, J. A. (2015). Re-induction outcome for pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A retrospective cohort study of the therapeutic advances in childhood leukemia consortium. Blood, 126(23), 3760.
  • Sun, W., Malvar, J., Sposto, R., Verma, A., Wilkes, J.J., Dennis, R., Heym, K., Laetsch, T.W., Widener, M., Rheingold, S.R., Oesterheld, J., Hijiya, N., Sulis, M.L., Huynh, V., Place, A.E., Bittencourt, H., Hutchinson, R., Messinger, Y., Chang, B., Matloub, Y., Ziegler, D.S., Gardner, R., Cooper, T., Ceppi, F., Hermiston, M., Dalla-Pozza, L., Schultz, K.R., Gaynon, P., Wayne, A.S., Whitlock, J.A. (2018). Outcome of children with multiply relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a therapeutic advances in childhood leukemia & lymphoma study. Leukemia Nov;32(11):2316-2325.
  • Thienprayoon, R., Heym, K. M., Pelfrey, L., Bowers, D. C. (2013). Accidental overdose of intrathecal cytarabine in children. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 47(5), e24-e24. doi:10.1345/aph.1S028

Education

  • Medical school:
  • Vanderbilt University School of Medicine - Nashville Tennessee,Baylor College of Medicine
  • Residency:
  • Babies and Children's Hospital at Columbia University, New York, New York
  • Board certifications:
  • American Board of Pediatrics
  • American Board of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Affiliations

  • Cook Children's Physician Network,Hendrick Medical Center - Abilene Texas,Midland Memorial Hospital - Midland Texas,Shannon Medical Center - San Angelo Texas

Recognitions

  • Chairman (2019 Leukemia Texas Beat Leukemia Ball)
  • Fort Worth Man of the Year (2017 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)
  • Amos Christie Award for Excellence in Pediatrics (1999 Vanderbilt University School of Medicine)
  • Chairman (1998-1999 Vanderbilt School of Medicine Cadaver Ball)
  • Amos Christie Society Scholarship recipient (1997 Vanderbilt University School of Medicine)
  • Social Chairman (1995-1996 Vanderbilt School of Medicine Class of 1999)
  • Beneficial-Hodson Trust (1991-1995)
  • National Merit Scholar finalist (1991)

Find us on social

Faceboook Logo YouTube Logo