Dr. Anna Mandalakas

Dr. Anna Mandalakas directs the Adoption Health Service and plays an active role in the Northeast Ohio adoption community to support child-centered adoption. In addition to the many clinical services she provides through our Adoption Health Service, she routinely provides lectures to raise community awareness about the special needs of children adopted internationally. Her educational efforts have been directed towards a wide variety of audiences including parents, teachers, psychologists, school administrators, community physicians, nurses, and health care professionals in training. In recognition of these efforts, the Adoption Network Cleveland chose Dr. Mandalakas as the 2003 Triad Advocate of the Year. Upcoming lectures of Dr. Mandalakas and other members of the Adoption Health Service may be found on our website.

Dr. Mandalakas completed her undergraduate studies in Medical Anthropology at Case Western Reserve University. After obtaining her medical degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, she returned to Cleveland and completed her Pediatric Residency (1997) and International Child Health Fellowship (2000) at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. Additionally, she received her Master’s degree in Epidemiology from Case Western Reserve University (2000).

Dr. Mandalakas is currently funded by the National Institute of Health to research cost-effective screening in children adopted internationally. (LINK to research) Dr. Mandalakas is actively involved in collaborative research addressing several other major issues of concern in internationally adopted children including attachment, developmental delays, fetal alcohol syndrome and other infectious diseases.

Dr. Mandalakas also serve as Medical Director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.

Stephen Niple

Steve Niple is the Administrative Assistant for the Adoption Health Service as well as the Department Assistant for the Rainbow Center for Global Child Health.  Steve has been working with and assisting families in pediatrics through Children's Hospitals for over 5 years.  Steve is also an active member of Circle of Friends, an outreach program developed by the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees, dedicated to support Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital through the donation of funds, volunteer time or advocacy.