Rachel A. Mariani, MD, is a pediatric and hematopathologist, who serves as the section director of hematopathology, and medical director of the Flow Cytometry Laboratory and the Hematology Laboratories at Phoenix Children's. As a specialist in her fields, Dr. Mariani has unique training to diagnose blood disorders and cancers that affect children.

Dr. Mariani joined Phoenix Children's because of the organization's commitment to excellence. She enjoys working with a team of diverse individuals who collaborate to provide the best care for patients and their families.

Dr. Mariani completed her education and medical training in Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and completed her medical degree and residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. She finished her fellowship training in hematopathology and pediatric pathology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Mariani currently holds faculty appointments at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and University of Arizona College of Medicine.

Board certified in clinical pathology, anatomic pathology, hematology pathology, and pediatric pathology, Dr. Mariani has authored chapters in medical textbooks and has published peer-reviewed research in the American Journal of Hematology and the Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, among many others. She serves on several national professional committees and has been an invited faculty speaker and presenter at national and international medical conferences and meetings.

"I became interested in medicine at a young age while being treated by my pediatric allergist and immunologist. He explained that my symptoms were caused by my immune system, and he taught me about white blood cells," says Dr. Mariani. "As I got older, he gave me medical literature to read and taught me more about immunology and its role in diseases. I became interested in the cellular and unseen causes of disease."

Dr. Mariani aims to treat every patient as if they are a friend or family. She strives to provide a comprehensive evaluation for any disease process and report the diagnosis in a way providers, patients and their families can understand.