LTC Lauren M. Vasta was born and raised outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She joined the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) as the Fellowship Program Director in June of 2023.  Her main efforts include oncology and cancer predisposition research, contributing to pediatric resident and fellow professional development and military officership.

LTC Vasta earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Healthcare Ethics from Saint Joseph’s University.  In June of 2007, MAJ Vasta commissioned into the U.S. Army through the Health Professions Scholarship Program and studied medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. She received her Doctor of Medicine in 2011.

LTC Vasta completed her pediatric internship and residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland in 2014.  Her first assignment was at Bassett Army Community Hospital at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.  In 2016, MAJ Vasta volunteered to take the Brigade Surgeon position with the 35^th Air Defense Artillery Unit on Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea where she served as the medical subject matter expertise for both the Army and Air Force.  These experiences fortified her passion for pediatric medicine and dedication to military service.

In 2017, LTC Vasta was accepted into fellowship training for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at WRNMMC.  MAJ Vasta also conducts research as a clinical fellow with the Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland.  Her research endeavors earned her multiple research awards at WRNMMC, and she was awarded the Young Investigators Award at the International Society of Pediatric Oncology 2020 Congress.   

Following fellowship, LTC Vasta served as the Chief of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology and the Chief of Inpatient Pediatrics at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC).  She concomitantly serviced as the Principal Investigator for multiple Children’s Oncology Group pediatric clinical trials.  During this time, LTC was also awarded the Dave Berry Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics for her excellence in the practice pediatrics and holding significant promise for a career in medication education.

Dr. Vasta returned to WRNMMC in May of 2023 as the Program Director for the only DoD Pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellowship training program.  Currently she serves as both the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Service Chief and Program Director and maintains a research relationship with the Children’s Oncology Group to bring premier pediatric cancer care to military families and active duty servicemembers.