The Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Northside Hospital (NH-BMT) provides the best of both worlds—clinical excellence and compassionate care. We are committed to being the premier program in the Southeast, providing exceptional, state-of-the-art care to patients undergoing acute leukemia treatment, CAR T-cell immunotherapy, and blood and marrow stem cell transplantation. New patient brochure
The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) and the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) announce new 2025 allogeneic survival data: Northside BMT has overperformed one-year allogeneic survival outcomes for seventeen consecutive years.
NH-BMT is the ONLY BMT program in the country and the ONLY BMT program in Georgia to have achieved survival outcomes that significantly exceed the expected one-year survival rate for allogeneic and unrelated donor transplants for the last 17 consecutive reporting cycles (2009–2025) and is one of only 8 national centers (less than 2.5% of all centers) to over-perform for the current annual reporting cycle.
NH-BMT is the largest allogeneic BMT program in Georgia. To view brochure click here.
The program’s actual one-year survival rate, as reported in the December 2025 Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) final 2025 Transplant Center Specific Survival Report (page 35, center 151) and nmdp.org, is 78.9%. *
For additional survival data details, visit bmtga.com/bmt-survival-data.
*Survival information includes only patients who received their first allogeneic transplant between January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2023, using unrelated or related donors and who had reported follow-up.
Doctors on Call: Dr. Melhem Solh’s interview about Northside’s comprehensive blood cancer and bone marrow transplant programs & breakthrough treatments.
On April 12, 2026, WSB’s Doctors on Call host, Belinda Skelton, interviewed Dr. Melhem Solh, a physician at The Blood & Marrow Transplant Group of Georgia and the medical director of Northside’s Cellular Therapy Program, about Northside’s comprehensive blood cancer and bone marrow transplant programs & breakthrough treatments.
The interview was held on April 12, 2026
The FDA has removed the limitations of use in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) for YESCARTA, CAR T-cell Therapy
YESCARTA is the first and only LBCL CAR T therapy to have the PCNSL limitation removed.[1]
PCNSL is a rare and aggressive form of NHL, accounting for approximately 1% of all NHL cases, leaving patients with few treatment options. Up until now, all LBCL CAR T therapies carried FDA limitations excluding or cautioning use in this population due to concerns around neurotoxicity and limited safety data.[1-3]
YESCARTA is a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy indicated for the treatment of:Adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma that is refractory to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or that relapses within 12 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy. (1.1)
Celebrating Survivorship at the 2025 Northside Hospital BMT and CAR T-Cell Reunion
The 2025 Northside Hospital Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) and CAR T-Cell Survivor’s Reunion was recently held at the Georgia Aquarium, bringing together more than 800 attendees for an unforgettable celebration. The evening was filled with emotion—tears, joy, laughter, and even a surprise marriage proposal!
Guests were inspired by heartfelt speeches from an allogeneic acute leukemia transplant survivor celebrating 27 years since transplant, a sickle cell transplant survivor marking two years of renewed health, and a devoted caregiver and platelet donor who shared a powerful perspective on giving and gratitude.
We extend our deepest thanks to our dedicated physicians, staff, and—most importantly—our true heroes: our patients and their caregivers. Your strength, resilience, and hope continue to inspire us every day.
New guidelines for multiple myeloma care
Treatment for multiple myeloma is changing quickly — and that is good news for patients.
In 2019, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and Ontario Health jointly published evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of multiple myeloma.1 Since then, several major clinical trials have reshaped how this disease is managed.
In 2026, updated guidelines were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.2 The updated guidelines are based on a systematic review and were developed by a multidisciplinary expert panel, which included a patient representative and an ASCO guidelines staff member with health research methodology expertise.
Precision Diagnostics At the Cutting Edge
Northside Hospital has introduced an advanced RNA fusion next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel to improve the speed and accuracy of leukemia diagnosis, particularly for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but also for chronic myeloid neoplasms. AML is not a single disease but a group of blood cancers driven by distinct genetic abnormalities. Because many modern therapies are targeted to specific molecular markers, precise and timely genetic testing at diagnosis is critical to selecting the most effective treatment.
The new RNA fusion panel can detect hundreds of clinically relevant gene fusions using bone marrow or peripheral blood samples. Results are available within a few business days, enabling faster and more confident treatment decisions.
Jackie’s story: Her Large Cell Lymphoma journey
In April 2008, at the age of 29, I developed persistent flu and pneumonia-like symptoms. Progressive symptoms including fever, aching, lethargy, pain, my first asthma attack in 20 years, and fluid around my heart landed me in the ICU, where I remained for nearly a month! While hospitalized, I was diagnosed with Stage IV Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), situated in my lungs.
My diagnosis came about a week into my hospitalization, and my first treatment wasadministered under sedation. Fortunately, I had a quick response to treatment and officially went into remission/NED later that year. Fortunately, I had a quick response to treatment and officially went into remission/NED later that year. In October, my life was back on track, I regained some independence and my hair grew back. For four years I enjoyed life, participating in survivor camps across the country (First Descents, Project Koru, Camp Hope). I felt free and wanted to put cancer behind me. I did.
Patient Stories
Eva’s story: Her multiple myeloma journey
Eva Podstata of Canton is a nurse at Northside Hospital Cherokee. She is used to caring for others. But in March 2021, she became the patient after she began experiencing persistent hip pain. At 59, she attributed it to “old age.”
The pain became so severe, Eva said, that it took all she had just to walk to her office each day. Click Here to read full interview
Dawn’s story: Living with GVHD
Dawn Goodfriend, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, said she’d never been in the hospital except for a tonsillectomy in 1969. That all changed in January 2020, when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and began treatment through the Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program at Northside Hospital. After a life-saving stem cell transplant, Dawn developed graft-versus-host disease...Click Here to read full interview
April’s story: Strength, survival and purpose after cancer
In March 2014, after nearly three months of worsening symptoms and extensive testing, April Byrd of Douglasville was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Her journey began with a series of visits to her dermatologist for treatment for recurrent cysts. She would later also experience chest pain... Click Here to read full interview
Margaret's story: A life of blessings after leukemia
Margaret Marcinkowski of Johns Creek is a 27-year survivor of leukemia. When she was diagnosed in June 1998, she was 36 years old, married, the mother of three children, ages 8, 5 and 1, and starting a job search to go back to work.
This is her story, told in her own words...Click Here to read full interview
