BRYAN SISK is an assistant professor in Department of Pediatrics’ Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine, with a joint appointment in the Bioethics Research Center in the Department of Medicine. Sisk completed his MD at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, and completed his subsequent clinical training at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University. Dr. Sisk also completed the Mentored Training Program in Clinical Investigation (MTPCI) and earned a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) from Washington University School of Medicine.

Dr. Sisk’s research focuses on communication and the role of evolving technologies in the care of patients with cancer and rare diseases. His team developed the first functional model of communication in pediatric oncology, and have since adapted this model to other serious pediatric illnesses. His team also developed the first validated measure of these communication functions in pediatric oncology. His current studies are exploring how to best leverage online patient portals to improve communication and support medical management of children with serious illnesses. He is also leading studies that aim to retrain large language model (LLM) powered chatbots to provide high-quality information to families affected by rare diseases. His clinical expertise is vascular anomalies, and he serves as co-director of both the Vascular Anomalies Center and HHT Center of Excellence at Washington University in St. Louis, as well as Membership Chair for the Consortium of Investigators for Vascular Anomalies.

Dr. Sisk has served in several editorial roles for major academic journals, including:

• Deputy Editor, Journal of General Internal Medicine (Web Edition), The Living Hand section.
• Assistant Editor, Academic Pediatrics, “In the Moment” column.
• Section Editor, Pediatrics, Section on Pediatric Trainees (SOPT) Monthly Feature
• Also, selected as the first editorial fellow for Pediatrics in 2016

• 2021 Young Investigator Award – American Society for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
• 2021 Top Scoring Abstract – Conquer Cancer Scientific and Career Development Retreat
• 2020 Commissioner, Lancet Commission on the Value of Life in Medicine
• 2019 Scholarship in Teaching Award, Case Western Reserve University
• 2019 Young Investigator Award – Pediatric Palliative Oncology Symposium, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

ASCO Career Development Award         Sisk, PI         07/01/2022 – 6/30/2025
Characterizing the Perceived Risks, Benefits, Motivations, and Barriers to Accessing Electronic Health Information in Adolescent Oncology

This project will generate essential knowledge about ethical and practical challenges in EHI access for adolescents in oncology, as well as recommendations for providing this EHI access to adolescents and parents.
Role: PI

Lymphatic Malformation Institute         Sisk, PI         10/01/2023 – 9/30/2024
Developing an Electronic Health Record Tool to Improve Patient Knowledge and Self-Management

The goal of this study is to develop a novel and scalable communication tool that adapts the existing Epic MyChart Care Companion to meet the needs of patients with complex lymphatic anomalies (CLAs) and their parents.
Role: PI

Million Dollar Bike Ride         Sisk, PI         02/01/2024 – 1/31/2025
CLA Chatbot: Developing a Scalable Artificial Intelligence-Powered Communication Tool for Families Affected by Complex Lymphatic Anomalies

Many families affected by complex lymphatic anomalies (CLAs) have great difficulty accessing high quality information about their disorder. Poor information has been associated with worse mental and physical health, as well as less ability to access needed healthcare. This study aims to retrain ChatGPT with a curated knowledge database specific to CLAs to provide a scalable tool to provide families with essential information about CLAs.
Role: PI

Sisk B, Dubois JM. The Microethics of Communication in Health Care: A New Framework for the Fast Thinking of Everyday Clinical Encounters. Hastings Cent Rep. 2022;52(4):34-43. PMID:35993106

Sisk BA, Kerr A, King KA. Factors affecting pathways to care for children and adolescents with complex vascular malformations: parental perspectives. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2022;17(1):271. PMID:35840977

Sisk BA, Foraker R, DuBois JM. Navigating Conflicting Interests in Pandemic Research: Preparing the US Research Infrastructure for a Worse Pandemic. Am J Med. 2022. PMID:36252708

Manley H, Sisk BA, Master Z, Scott CT. Prescribing unproven cancer drugs: physician perspectives on expanded access and right to try. J Law Biosci. 2022;9(2):lsac031. PMCID:PMC9596169 PMID:36419857

Kerr AM, Bereitschaft C, Duty KM, Sisk BA. Navigating care for rare diseases: Caregiver and patient advice for families and clinicians managing care for vascular malformations. Patient Educ Couns. 2022;107:107569. PMID:36410314

Srinivas M, Kaye EC, Blazin LJ, Baker JN, Mack JW, DuBois JM, Sisk BA. Advice to Clinicians on Communication from Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer and Parents of Children with Cancer. Children (Basel). 2022;10(1). PMCID:PMC9856802 PMID:36670560

Sisk B, Bereitschaft C, Kerr A. Communication with parents and young adult patients affected by complex vascular malformations. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2022;e30158. PMID:36545911

Eldem I, Picarsic J, Kumar A, Mossé YP, Roberts KF, Armstrong AE, Sisk BA. Lorlatinib use in an infant with thalamic ALK-positive histiocytosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023;e30378. PMID:37073762

Kalbfell R, Wang W, Fishman S, Kerr AM, Sisk B. Burdens of disease and caregiver burden in complex vascular malformations. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023;e30367. PMID:37114758

Sisk BA, Antes AL, Bereitschaft C, Enloe M, Bourgeois F, DuBois J. Challenges to Developing and Implementing Policies for Adolescent Online Portal Access. Pediatrics. 2023. PMID:37132339

Cohen-Cutler S, Blatt J, Bayliff S, Iacobas I, Hammill A, Sisk BA. Vascular Anomalies Care in the United States: A Cross-sectional National Survey. J Pediatr. 2023;113579. PMID:37353145

Sisk B. Parental regret in pediatric oncology: What are we measuring? Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023;e30598. PMID:37488064

Sisk B. The Harms and Benefits of Billing for Patient Portal Messages. Pediatrics. 2023. PMID:37534418

Sisk BA, Lin S, Balls-Berry JJE, Servin AE, Mack JW. Identifying contributors to disparities in patient access of online medical records: examining the role of clinician encouragement. JAMIA Open. 2023;6(3):ooad049. PMCID:PMC10325895 PMID:37425488

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