Annual Meeting Sessions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The following information is preliminary and subject to change. The full annual meeting schedule (including session dates, times, and locations) will be available in early October.
As a global hematology community, ASH understands the importance of having individuals with diverse perspectives and experiences in all areas of the field and strives to improve the outcomes for individuals with hematologic diseases. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Sessions examine the science of how identity differences impact outcomes and how attendees can mitigate those differences to achieve equitable outcomes for all individuals with hematologic diseases and disorders.
For more information on ASH's efforts in the DEI space, please visit the ASH's DEI page.
Education Program
A Little Less Conversation, a Little More Action: An Outcome Equity Roadmap for Children and AYAs With Leukemia and Lymphoma
Centuries of structural racism have contributed to discrimination, environmental and social injustice, and household material hardship among historically marginalized populations. Recent studies have highlighted the impact of factors such as income and insurance status on cancer outcomes and health equity. Under-representation of specific groups has limited our understanding of cancer risk, disease biology, treatment-related toxicities, and patient-reported outcomes. The educational objective of this session is to present the latest evidence regarding modifiable factors that contribute to outcome disparities in childhood/adolescent and young adult (AYA) hematologic malignancies, and to discuss potential targets for interventions that address these disparities. Dr. Ji will present an in-depth overview of public health insurance programs in the U.S. and related implications on outcome disparities among AYAs with blood cancers. Using a case-based approach, Dr. Ji will discuss opportunities to improve access to high-quality public health insurance, subsequent to the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Umaretiya will discuss the role of social determinants of health (SDOH) as modifiable drivers of outcome inequities in pediatric oncology. She will review the prevalence of SDOH in pediatric oncology, present historically marginalized parent perspectives on unmet social needs during cancer care, and highlight novel interventions addressing this population鈥檚 SDOH and social needs. Dr. Mittal will discuss factors contributing to low rates of enrollment of AYAs with hematologic malignancies to clinical trials, including a lack of availability and accessibility. She will provide an up-to-date review of collaborative initiatives that are addressing some of these barriers to improve AYA access to cancer clinical trials.
Chair:
Maria Monica Monica听Gramatges
,听MD,PhD
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston,听
TX
Speakers:
Xu听Ji
,听PhD
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta,听
GA
The Lasting Impact of the ACA: How Medicaid Expansion Reduces Outcome Disparities in AYAs With Leukemia and Lymphoma
Puja J.听Umaretiya
,听MD
Childrens Medical Center Dallas, UT Southwestern
Dallas,听
TX
Targeting Hardship: Poverty as a Modifiable Risk Factor in Childhood Leukemia and Lymphoma Treatment
Nupur Mittal听Nupur Mittal
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago,听
IL
Sharing is Caring: A Network Collaborative Approach to Identify and Address Barriers in Accessing Clinical Trials in AYAs with Leukemia and Lymphoma
Hematologic Management of the Patient with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Heavy menstrual bleeding (HBM) has an important impact on the physical, emotional and social well-being, and in adolescents, can be the only clinical sign of an underlying bleeding disorder. Due to several medical, economic and social factors, it remains a significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. Hematologists play an important role in the evaluation and care of patients with anemia from chronic blood loss, and may be the first clinicians to identify HMB as its cause.听 This education session will describe a clinical multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and treatment of patients presenting with HMB, with a special focus on adolescents. It will provide an overview of diagnostic and management strategies to broaden the tools available to hematologists caring for these patients in different clinical settings.
Dr. Allison P Wheeler will discuss the various tools available for the quantification of menstrual blood loss, including those that evaluate the effect of HMB on quality of life; followed by a description of non-surgical (hormonal and non-hormonal) treatments of HMB, their efficacy, contraindications and selection of the most appropriate therapy using shared decision-making.
Dr. Juliana Perez Botero will present a focused approach to laboratory testing (screening and confirmatory) for patients presenting with HMB in whom von Willebrand Disease is suspected, with emphasis on the effect of pre-analytical variables and testing methodology on the results and their clinical interpretation.
Dr. Janice Staber will discuss the value of multidisciplinary clinics specializing in the care of adolescents with HMB, including their critical components and different care delivery models, and share important lessons learned during the development and implementation of one of these clinics.
Chair:
Juliana听Perez Botero
,听MD
Versiti
Milwaukee,听
WI
Speakers:
Allison P听Wheeler
,听MD/MSCI
Washington Center for Bleeding Disorders
Seattle,听
WA
Quantifying Menorrhagia and Overview of Non-Surgical Management of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Juliana听Perez Botero
,听MD
Versiti
Milwaukee,听
WI
Von Willebrand Disease and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: When and How to Test
Janice听Staber
,听MD
University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital
Iowa City,听
IA
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Clinics for Adolescents
Sex Hormones, Contraceptives, and Thrombotic Risk: Where Are We Now?
Venous thromboembolism is a common disease, with an incidence of one to three per 1000 individuals per year. Numerous risk factors are known, which can be divided into genetic and acquired. One of the most well-known acquired risk factors is exposure to endogenous (i.e. pregnancy) and exogenous female hormones, including oral contraceptive use, hormone substitution therapy, and gender-affirming hormone therapy. Thrombosis specialists are frequently consulted about optimal hormonal therapy in individuals with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, as well as optimal management of pregnancy-related venous thromboembolism.
Dr Leslie Skeith will cover contraceptive-related VTE risk by agent and by clinical scenario, including in patients with inherited thrombophilia, systemic lupus erythematosus with or without antiphospholipid antibodies or antiphospholipid syndrome, and sickle cell disease considering contraception. Relevant clinical practice guidelines are reviewed. A multidisciplinary approach to counselling is needed for patient-focused decision-making.
Dr Joseph Shatzel will explore the hematologic complications of gender-affirming therapy, with a particular focus on managing and mitigating the thrombotic risks linked to exogenous estrogen use. He will detail existing data on thrombotic risks reported in transgender individuals and provide insights from studies involving cisgender women and men who receive exogenous estrogen and testosterone, providing important contextual background. He will delve into strategies for addressing testosterone-induced erythrocytosis and iron deficiency in transgender individuals undergoing hormone therapy.
Dr Saskia Middeldorp will present clinical cases of VTE related to hormonal contraceptive use and pregnancy to illustrate key considerations for clinical practice. Practice points for primary VTE treatment and the evidence on the risk of recurrent VTE and bleeding in this population are detailed. The potential value of thrombophilia testing is described including the: 鈥渨ho, why, when, what and how鈥. We also discuss key aspects of shared decision making for anticoagulant duration, including a reduced dose anticoagulant strategy in hormone-related VTE.
Chair:
Saskia听Middeldorp
,听MD, PhD
Radboud university medical center
Nijmegen,听
Netherlands
Speakers:
尝别蝉濒颈别听厂办别颈迟丑
University of Calgary
Calgary,听
AB,听Canada
Estrogen, Progestin, and Beyond: Thrombotic Risk and Contraceptive Choices
Joseph J.听Shatzel
,听MD
Oregon Health and Science University
Portland,听
OR
Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy in the Transgender Patient: Influence on Thrombotic Risk
Saskia听Middeldorp
,听MD, PhD
Radboud university medical center
Nijmegen,听
Netherlands
Hormone-Related Thrombosis: Duration of Anticoagulation, Risk of Recurrence, and the Role of Hypercoagulability Testing
The Expanding Landscape of Treatment for ITP
The management of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) has seen a renaissance in the available therapies and in the approach to patients with the diagnosis in recent years. This has lead to an expanding number of therapeutic options for patients and physicians to consider as they embark on their therapeutic journey with ITP. Dr. Waleed Ghanima will discuss the new approaches incorporating combination strategies in management of patients with ITP including suggestions for when to consider moving beyond mono therapy for ITP. Dr. Annemarie Fogerty will then discuss updates on ITP in pregnancy, a special category of ITP with implications for both maternal and fetal health and provide the most information on both treatments and outcomes. Finally, Dr. Michele Lambert will then describe current clinical trials (or recently completed) and provide information on novel therapeutics that are in development as well as the current treatment gaps where additional study is needed.
Chair:
Michele P.听Lambert
,听MD
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia,听
PA
Speakers:
Waleed听Ghanima
,听MD,PhD
脴stfold Hospital
Gralum,听
Norway
Insights on Treatment of ITP: Algorithm for Management and Role of Multi-Modal Therapy
Annemarie E听Fogerty
,听M.D.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston,听
MA
Management of ITP during Pregnancy
Michele P.听Lambert
,听MD
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia,听
PA
On the Horizon: Upcoming New Agents for the Management of ITP
Health Equity Studio
Achieving Equity and Inclusion in Clinical Trial Enrollment: Challenges and Opportunities
Dr. Paula Aristizabal will describe the role of Social Determinants of Health, such as health literacy and acculturation, in research participation, focused on marginalized communities. She will provide an overview of barriers and facilitators to achieving equity and inclusion in clinical trial enrollment, including her research implementing a culturally and linguistically tailored intervention to improve consent outcomes during enrollment for therapeutic clinical trials.
Speaker:
Paula听Aristizabal
,听MD
University of California San Diego School of Medicine
San Diego,听
CA
Advocating for Language Justice in Hematology
Dr. Joanna Robles addresses barriers to language appropriate care in hematology. She provides an overview of existing research of language disparities in research and clinical practice. She emphasizes practical strategies to advocate for language justice in hematology.
Speaker:
Joanna听Robles
,听MD
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Brenner Children鈥檚 Hospital
Winston Salem,听
NC
Combating Structural Racism for Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders in Health Data
Dr. Kekoa Taparra will highlight the importance of patient-centered care and examine how the erasure and aggregation of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) data perpetuates systemic racism in healthcare, leading to insufficient public policy and resource allocation for NHPI individuals. This session will advocate for inclusive data practices and strategies for improving data disaggregation and enhancing the visibility of NHPI health needs, which can help better address the disparities faced by this underserved community.
Speaker:
Kekoa听Taparra
,听MD,PhD
Stanford Health Care
Stanford,听
CA
Ensuring Equitable Access to Quality Care for Undocumented Immigrants and Mixed-Status Families
Undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families face numerous structural barriers rooted in structural racism and xenophobia. Dr. Kemmick Pintor will discuss these structural barriers, the intersection of immigration and health care policy, and the resulting health and health care inequities. The session will provide examples of practices and policies to address these inequities and advance equity for undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families.
Speaker:
Jessie Kemmick听Pintor
,听PhD, MPH
Drexel University
Philadelphia,听
PA
Global Hematology Collaboration: Advancing Diversity and Leadership in Clinical Research
Dr. Luis Malpica shares his journey from Peru to global research leadership, and highlights strategies for fostering international collaborations in hematology research. He discusses the importance of increasing diversity in clinical trials and positioning physicians from minority backgrounds in leading high-impact research while mentoring the next generation of medical professionals to ensure equitable healthcare outcomes, globally.
Speaker:
Luis Enrique听Malpica Castillo
,听MD
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston,听
TX
Strengthening the Provider-Patient Relationship: A Guide to Building Trust
Building trust between healthcare providers and systems with communities and patients is crucial for improving health outcomes and healing communities. Dr. Jorge Cortes and Dr. Randolph Lyde Jr. will discuss prioritizing open communication, empathy, and respect and how providers can foster a sense of partnership with patients and communities with the goal of achieving increased community buy-in,听improved health outcomes, increase participation in clinical trials, and a stronger healthcare system.
Speakers:
Randolph听Lyde
,听PhD
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia,听
PA
Jorge E.听Cortes
,听MD
Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University
Augusta,听
GA
Marquee Sessions
2024 Ham-Wasserman Lecture
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited red blood cell (RBC) disorder caused by either homozygous inheritance of the hemoglobin S mutation (HbSS), or compound heterozygous inheritance of the hemoglobin S mutation with another 脽-globin chain abnormality. India has among the highest hemoglobin S allele frequencies in the world and the third-highest birth rate for babies born with HbSS.听
The Indian sickle cell haplotype is associated with the Arab-Indian or Asian haplotype and is associated with high fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels and hence, is believed to have mild clinical presentation as compared to other populations. 听
听
In this lecture Dr. Dipty Jain will discuss the status of frequency, comorbidities, and management of sickle cell disease (SCD) in India, which is characterized by relatively high percentages of fetal hemoglobin, accompanied by mild to severe complications observed globally. Additionally she will talk about targeted newborn screening and fixed low dose of hydroxyurea in managing children with sickle cell disease in India.听
Dr. Jain will discuss the milestones and progress in understanding sickle cell disease (SCD) phenotype accelerated by the Government of India鈥檚 ambitious 鈥樷橬ational Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission 2023鈥欌 with comprehensive guidelines and implementation of screening, treat, counsel, educate, development of technology and novel therapies including gene therapy specific to the requirement of India鈥檚 population with sickle cell disease (SCD).听
Chair:
Mohandas听Narla
,听DSc
New York Blood Center
New York,听
NY
Speaker:
Dipty Lalit听Jain
Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital
NAGPUR,听
India
Sickle Cell Disease in Developing Countries
Scientific Workshops
Scientific Workshop on Aging and Hematology
Hematologic disorders disproportionately affect older adults; however, our understanding of the aging mechanisms that drive hematologic dysfunction remains limited. This workshop will interrogate the roles for cell intrinsic (epigenetics, proteostasis) vs. extrinsic (microenvironment, immune function) factors on aging in hematologic diseases. The workshop which aims to be interactive and fostering debate-style discourse, will also address the translation of geroscience biomarkers that can be used to understand and treat patients across the aging continuum.
Target Audience:
Laboratory-based scientists, clinical/translational investigators, and early career investigators with an interest in aging and hematology (malignant and classical).
Objectives:
- Foster interaction and engagement among aging scientists and investigators conducting research at the interface of hematology and aging.
- Provide a forum within ASH to advance discussions on novel aging science related to hematologic disorders and implications for translation to clinical practice.
- Provide opportunities for early career investigators to participate and interact with established leaders in the field of hematology and aging.
Workshop Program:
The full workshop program with speakers will be available at a later date.
Moderators:
Kah Poh听Loh,听MD, MBBCH BAO, MS
University of Rochester
Rochester,听
NY
Megan听Weivoda,听PhD
Mayo Clinic
Rochester,听
MN
Special-Interest Sessions
DEI Community Networking Lunch (for in-person participants)
This is a community-building and networking event for members that fall within the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) umbrella to gather and get to know each other across the varying and intersectional communities. This event is hosted by the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and aims to create space for ASH DEI communities and allies and, where possible, identify opportunities to learn more about the experiences and needs of these communities to allow ASH to have a greater impact in its DEI efforts. This year鈥檚 event will include inspiring remarks from a member of the committee and networking opportunities throughout.
Moderators:
Noha听Soror,听MD,MSc
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center
Edmond,听
OK
Sarwish听Rafiq,听Ph.D.
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta,听
GA
Speaker:
Marcos听de Lima
,听MD
The Ohio State University
Columbus,听
OH
Health Equity Rounds Lunch
Health Equity Rounds are interactive, case-based discussions with an interdisciplinary panel to include hematologists, health equity/public health experts, patients, and patient advocates to discuss health equity issues within hematology. Lunch will be provided to in-person attendees.
CoChair:
Yvonne A.听Efebera
,听MD
Ohio Health
Columbus,听
OH
Srinivas听Devarakonda
,听MD
Ohio State University Medical Center
Columbus,听
OH
Speakers:
Ash Blythe听Alpert
,听MD, MFA
Yale School of Medicine
New Haven,听
CT
Hematologic Aspects of Gender Affirming Care
Eric Scott听Mullins
,听MD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati,听
OH
Hematologic Aspects of Gender Affirming Care
Health Equity Symposium: Race, Structural Racism and the Social Determinants of Health in Hematology
The misuse of race in medicine has far-reaching implications across practice, teaching, and research in hematology. This session is intended to explore what race is and what it is not, and illustrate how systemic factors, including racism, influence health care access and outcomes. The session will also explore strategies to tackle systemic racism in patient care and how to create conditions for equitable care for patients with blood diseases. Dr. Joseph L. Graves Jr. will provide a summary of the history of biological conceptions of race and describe modern evolutionary conceptions of race. He will then address how this understanding can be useful in employing the power of modern genomic tools applied to human biological diversity, including how the use of these tools completely unravels the false premises of racial medicine. Dr. Chanita Hughes Halbert will define health care disparities and describe the nature and distribution of social determinants of disparities in disease risk and outcomes. She will also provide an overview of structural racism and its impact on health care outcomes in diverse populations.
Chair:
Deirdra R听Terrell
,听PhD
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma City,听
OK
Speakers:
Joseph L听Graves Jr.
,听PhD
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro,听
NC
The Myth of Race in Medical Science
Chanita Hughes听Halbert
,听PhD
University of Southern California
Los Angeles,听
CA
Structural Racism, the Social Determinants of Health, and Healthcare Outcomes 鈥 Understanding Inequity and What to Do About It
Hematology Inclusive Pathway (HIP) Networking Reception
Join our HIP community to network and celebrate our awardees and their mentors at this reception following the oral presentations.听 back to top
Hematology Inclusive Pathway (HIP) Oral Presentations: Room I (Malignant Hematology)
The Hematology Inclusive Pathway Presentations and Reception (previously known as Promoting Minorities in Hematology); ASH invites all interested meeting attendees to this event, which will showcase the research of our Hematology Inclusion Pathway awardees. This initiative is a comprehensive 13-year longitudinal career pathway of awards that strives to ensure that hematology reflects and serves the diverse world we live in. The highlight of the session will be oral scientific presentations from program participants. back to top
Hematology Inclusive Pathway (HIP) Oral Presentations: Room II (Health Services Outcomes)
The Hematology Inclusive Pathway Presentations and Reception (previously known as Promoting Minorities in Hematology); ASH invites all interested meeting attendees to this event, which will showcase the research of our Hematology Inclusion Pathway awardees. This initiative is a comprehensive 13-year longitudinal career pathway of awards that strives to ensure that hematology reflects and serves the diverse world we live in. The highlight of the session will be oral scientific presentations from program participants.听 back to top
Hematology Inclusive Pathway (HIP) Oral Presentations: Room III (Classical Hematology)
The Hematology Inclusive Pathway Presentations and Reception (previously known as Promoting Minorities in Hematology); ASH invites all interested meeting attendees to this event, which will showcase the research of our Hematology Inclusion Pathway awardees. This initiative is a comprehensive 13-year longitudinal career pathway of awards that strives to ensure that hematology reflects and serves the diverse world we live in. The highlight of the session will be oral scientific presentations from program participants.听 back to top
LGBTQIA+ Community Networking Brunch (for in-person participants)
This is a community-building and networking event for members of the LGBTQIA+ community attending the meeting. The event is hosted by the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and aims to create a sense of belonging and allyship. This year鈥檚 event will include an insightful panel discussion focused on being LGBTQIA+ across the hematology career spectrum, including the role of mentorship and the importance of inclusivity, as well as ample networking opportunities.
Moderator:
Jonas听Jutzi,听MD, PhD
Brigham and Women鈥檚 Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Boston,听
Speakers:
Diane听Krause
Yale University
New Haven,听
CT
Ash Blythe听Alpert
,听MD, MFA
Yale School of Medicine
New Haven,听
CT
Mouhamed Yazan听Abou-Ismail
,听MD
University of Utah
Salt Lake City,听
UT
Medical Educators Symposium
The Medical Educators Symposium (previously called the Hematology Course Directors Workshop) is open to all medical educators across the medical student, resident, and fellow continuum. The Medical Educators Symposium highlights cutting edge teaching techniques and theories while also showcasing participants of the ASH Medical Educators Institute. The symposium is two hours long and will begin with an hour of general sessions focused on medical education principles and then followed by simultaneous breakout sessions that happen twice.
Chair:
Hetty E.听Carraway
,听MD,MBA
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland,听
OH
Speakers:
Alison听Loren
,听MD
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia,听
PA
General Session 1: Paving a Career in Medical Education & Scholarship
Megan Murray听Dupuis
,听MD, PhD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville,听
TN
General Session 2: Utilizing Humanities to Influence and Tailor Hematology Curriculum for Adult Learners
Layla听Van Doren
Yale University
New York,听
NY
General Session 3: Incorporating Health Equity Education in UME/GME Curriculum
Alexander A听Boucher
,听MD
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis,听
MN
General Session 3: Incorporating Health Equity Education in UME/GME Curriculum
Beverly听Schaefer
,听MD
University of Buffalo
Buffalo,听
NY
Breakout 1: Challenges of Course Development
Ariela L.听Marshall
,听MD
University of Minnesota
Rochester,听
MN
Breakout 2: Developing Your Teaching Portfolio
Jason A听Freed
,听MD
Beth Israel Deaconess
Boston,听
MA
Breakout 3: Cutting-Edge Technology in Education Delivery
Thomas W.听LeBlanc
,听MD, MA, MSH
Duke Cancer Center
Durham,听
NC
Breakout 4: Developing a Palliative Care/Difficult Discussion Curriculum
Race and Ancestry in Precision Medicine
Race and ancestry, historically, have been poorly considered in basic and translational research design and clinical diagnoses. This session will describe how race and ancestry can inform hematology research conduct, specifically in clinical and genetic population profiling, interpretation of common hematologic tests, development of diagnostics, and overall precision medicine. The speakers selected in this session have incorporated race and ancestry in their own research and will be sharing their insights to help educate hematology investigators and clinicians understand how to consider race and ancestry into their own research and practice.
CoChair:
Jennifer J.听Trowbridge
,听PhD
The Jackson Laboratory
Bar Harbor,听
ME
Sant-Rayn听Pasricha
,听MD,PhD
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Fitzroy North,听
VIC,听Australia
Speakers:
Keolu听Fox
University of California, San Diego
San Diego,听
CA
Incorporating Indigenous Perspectives into Population Genetics
Ann-Kathrin听Eisfeld
,听MD
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Columbus,听
OH
Risk Re-Stratification Based on Black AML Patient Exome Data
Maureen听Achebe
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston,听
MA
How Inappropriate Reference Ranges Can Propagate Systemic Racism
Sickle Cell Disease Centers Session
To ensure high-quality care for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), it is imperative that providers and SCD care leaders have the tools to establish comprehensive clinical care centers for patients with SCD. Over the last several years, ASH has developed a program and blueprint for the creation of sickle cell disease centers. This special interest session is designed to help sickle cell disease care centers understand the development of 听CMS quality metrics and how to leverage these metrics 听to support delivery of 听high quality care.
CoChair:
Sophie听Lanzkron
,听MD
Sidney Kimmel College of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia,听
PA
Cecelia听Calhoun
,听MD,MBA,MPH
Yale New Haven Hospital
New Haven,听
CT
Speakers:
Titilope听Fasipe
,听MD,PhD
Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers
Houston,听
TX
The Importance of Recognition of Pediatric Quality Metrics in SCD: The Role of US News and World Report
Alexandra听Power-Hays
,听MD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Cincinnati,听
OH
Will the Creation of CMS Quality Metrics Change Care in the Treatment of Painful Episodes in the Emergency Department?
Cecelia听Calhoun
,听MD,MBA,MPH
Yale New Haven Hospital
New Haven,听
CT
Leveraging Quality Metrics to Maintain Support of Your Sickle Cell Disease Center
Symposium on Quality: Treating Fairly - The Role of Quality Improvement in Combating Health Care Disparities
This year's Quality Symposium will focus on practical strategies for combatting healthcare disparities. First, Dr. Melissa Creary will discuss the Michigan Social Health Interventions to Eliminate Disparities (MSHIELD) program, a statewide data-driven, community-partnered, and equity-centered quality improvement effort. Then Dr. Michelle Sholzberg will review the development and impact of the "Raise the Bar" project, which aims to eliminate disparities in the recognition and management of iron deficiency by adjusting reference ranges. The session will conclude with a talk by Dr. Thomas Greg Knight on mitigating the impact of financial toxicity in patients with hematologic malignancies.
CoChair:
Angela C听Weyand
,听MD
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor,听
MI
Adam听Cuker
,听MD, MS
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia,听
PA
Speakers:
Melissa听Creary
University of Michigan School of Public Health
Ann Arbor,听
MI
MSHIELD - Michigan Social Health Interventions to Eliminate Disparities
Michelle听Sholzberg
,听MDCM, MSc
University of Toronto
Toronto,听
ON,听Canada
Raise the Bar - Combatting Disparities in the Recognition and Management of Iron Deficiency
Thomas G.听Knight
,听MD
Atrium Health
Charlotte,听
NC
Cancer and Poverty - Mitigating the Impact of Financial Toxicity in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies
Women In Hematology Networking Event (for in-person participants)
This popular annual reception will provide a space where all can gather in an informal environment and connect with peers and potential mentors. The event will include a panel discussion focused on leadership through a gender and career development lens as well as ample networking opportunities.
Moderators:
Bethany听Samuelson Bannow,听MD
Oregon Health and Science University
Portland,听
OR
Glaivy听Batsuli,听MD
Stanford University
Stanford,听
CA
Spotlight Sessions
Biology Underlying Disparities in Lymphoid Malignancies
Significant disparities in outcomes have been described for several lymphoma subtypes, most notably related to race and HIV status. Although socioeconomic factors often play a role, new approaches are needed to determine whether distinct pathogenic mechanisms underlie such disparities. The modern era has been marked by major advances in understanding lymphoma pathobiology, but populations affected by disparities are woefully under-represented in most of these pivotal studies. This session will highlight recent, innovative work dedicated to closing this knowledge gap and identifying molecular targets for improving outcomes in vulnerable populations.
CoChair:
Christopher R.听Flowers
,听MD,MSc
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston,听
TX
Wendy听Cozen
,听DO, MPH
UCI, School of Medicine
Orange,听
CA
Speakers:
Christopher R.听Flowers
,听MD, MS
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston,听
TX
Tumor Sequencing to Investigate Disparities in Lymphoma
Wendy听Cozen
,听DO, MPH
UCI, School of Medicine
Orange,听
CA
Tumor Microenvironment Profiling to Investigate Disparities in Hodgkin Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma
Curative Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease: Option for Some but Not Quite All
Despite substantial improvements in care, individuals with sickle cell disease continue to experience substantial morbidity and a shortened life expectancy.听With recent advances in the development of curative therapies, including allogeneic stem cell transplantation and gene therapy, it is important to identify barriers to accessing these treatments and adequately define suitable candidates for curative therapies.
In this session, Dr. Santosh Saraf will review the current guidelines for curative therapies, discuss the potential benefits and risks of the different curative therapies, and provide insight on when to refer patients for curative therapy.
In the second presentation, Dr. Payal Desai will discuss the various barriers to accessing curative therapies as well as the need for development of an integrated care approach.
Chair:
Kenneth I.听Ataga
,听MD
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis,听
TN
Speakers:
Santosh L.听Saraf
,听MD
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago,听
IL
Curative Therapies in Sickle Cell Disease: Which Patient, What Modality, and When to Refer
Payal听Desai
,听MD
Wake Forest University
Charlotte,听
NC
Systemic Barriers to Curative Therapy and Need for Integrated Care
Making a Match: Optimal Donor HLA and Beyond
Selection of the optimal donor for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) involves a comprehensive evaluation of several critical factors. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching has proved to be the most likely crucial parameter in this process. However, several additional criteria can significantly influence allo-HCT outcomes.
Dr. Heather Stefanski will discuss the patient鈥檚 likelihood and probability of having a fully HLA-matched donor and finding a suitable donor prior to allo-HCT. She will summarize the historical barriers to transplant, especially for racially and ethnically diverse patients. A special focus will be put on new strategies, including post-transplant cyclophosphamide and abatacept, which can allow for safe and effective use of HLA-mismatched donor sources such as haploidentical donors and mismatched unrelated donors.听 Dr. Stefanski will highlight the research evidence that shows alternative donors are a viable and safe option for many allo-HCT recipients.
Dr. Mohamad Mohty will discuss the non-HLA factors which can contribute to further optimizing the selection of a donor prior to allo-HCT. These factors include the age of the donor (especially data favoring younger donors), recipient-donor gender mismatch and its impact on graft-versus-host disease, cytomegalovirus serostatus, and blood type compatibility. Dr Mohty will also briefly discuss the potential role of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) matching, and donor-recipient kinship.
By integrating HLA and non-HLA variables into the donor selection process, one can significantly enhance the outcome of patients who are candidates for allo-HCT.
Chair:
Mohamad听Mohty
,听MD,PhD
Saint-Antoine Hospital
Paris,听
France
Speakers:
Heather E.听Stefanski
,听MD,PhD
CIBMTR庐 (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research), NMDP
Minneapolis,听
MN
HLA: Optimizing the 鈥橣ull HLA Match鈥
Mohamad听Mohty
,听MD,PhD
Saint-Antoine Hospital
Paris,听
France
Beyond HLA: Optimizing Non-HLA Variables
Trainee Activities and Services
ASH Talk #2: International Medical Graduates
The ASH Talk sessions are 20-minute presentations, similar to a TED Talk, with dynamic speakers presenting timely topics. ASH Talks are the core plenary sessions of ASH-a-Palooza that take place at the top of each hour. The talks contain little to no slides and draw the entire audience of ASH-a-Palooza together, between the other microlearning and networking sessions that occur throughout the event (Blood Drops and Blood Buddies).
Chair:
Kaitlyn C听Dykes
,听MD,BS
University of California San Diego
La Jolla,听
CA
Speaker:
Jane S听Hankins
,听MD,MS
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis,听
TN
International Medical Graduates
Career Development Lunch
This session provides an intimate venue for trainees to meet with leaders in hematology to discuss careers in the wide array of practice areas within hematology, including basic, clinical, and translational research, PhD careers, careers in industry settings, and careers in private and clinical practice. There will are multiple tables dedicated to each career area and one faculty member at each table leading the discussion. A boxed lunch is provided. This is a first come, first served event that is usually very-well attended. The full list of topics covered are: Adult BMT; Pediatric BMT; Adult Clinical Malignant Hematology; Adult Clinical Classical Hematology; Clinical Careers in Hematology (Private Practice Careers); Government Careers (NIH and FDA); Industry Careers; Laboratory and Translational Hematology; Medical Educators in Hematology; Pediatric Clinical Hematology; PhD careers; Systems-Based Hematology; Global Hematology; Maternal Health; Medical Informatics and AI; Lifespan; and Geriatric Hematology.
Chair:
Leidy听Isenalumhe
Moffitt Cancer Center
Lutz,听
FL
Yvonne A.听Efebera
,听MD
Ohio Health
Columbus,听
OH
Speakers:
Rakhi P.听Naik
,听MD
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore,听
MD
Hematology-Focused Fellowship Training Program (HFFTP)
Robert听Stern
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
Boston,听
MA
Hematology-Focused Fellowship Training Program (HFFTP)
Pallawi听Torka
,听MD
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Buffalo,听
NY
International Graduate Hematology
Shruti听Chaturvedi
,听MBBS
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore,听
MD
International Graduate Hematology
Tanya听Wildes
University of Nebraska
Omaha,听
NE
Geriatric Hematology
Alexander A听Boucher
,听MD
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis,听
MN
Lifespan Hematology
Matthew J.听Maurer
,听DSc
Mayo University
Rochester,听
MN
Medical Informatics and AI
Lars听Bullinger
University of Ulm
Berlin,听
Germany
Medical Informatics & AI
Paula听James
,听MD, FRCPC
Queen's University
Kingston,听
ON,听Canada
Maternal Health
Ali听Bazarbachi
,听MD, PhD
American University of Beirut Medical Center
Beirut,听
Lebanon
International Opportunities Hematology
Kohei听Hosokawa
,听MD, PhD
Kanazawa University
Kanazawa,听
Japan
International Opportunities Hematology
Vishal听Kukreti
University Health Network
Toronto,听
ON,听Canada
Systems Based Hematology
Shannon听Elf
,听PhD
The University of Chicago
Chicago,听
IL
PhD Careers
Parvathi听Ranganathan
,听PHD
Ohio State University
Columbus,听
OH
PhD Careers
Sara听Vesely
,听PhD
The Univ. of OK Health Sciences Ctr.
Oklahoma City,听
OK
Pediatric Clinical Hematology
Angela C听Weyand
,听MD
University of Michigan Medical School
Ann Arbor,听
MI
Pediatric Clinical Hematology
Andrew听Volk
,听PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati,听
OH
Laboratory and Translational Hematology
Sanjay听Mohan
,听MD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville,听
TN
Medical Educators in Hematology
Tapan M.听Kadia
,听MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston,听
TX
Medical Educators in Hematology
Randal Joseph听Westrick
,听PhD
Oakland University
Rochester,听
MI
Laboratory and Translational Hematology
Danielle听Townsley
Astra Zeneca
Potomac,听
MD
Industry Careers
E. Leila Jerome听Clay
,听MD
Johns Hopkins
Watertown,听
MA
Industry Careers
Julie A.听Panepinto
,听MD, MSPH
Division of Blood Diseases and Resources, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Bethesda,听
MD
Government Careers (NIH and FDA)
Cara听Rabik
,听MD,PhD
Food and Drug Administration
Silver Spring,听
MD
Government Careers (NIH and FDA)
Adrienne M听Hammill
,听MD, PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati,听
OH
Pediatric Hematology
Emily听Saul
Columbus Oncology and Hematology
Columbus,听
OH
Private Practice Hematology
Maria听Carter Febres
,听MD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Cincinnati,听
OH
Pediatric Hematology
Alfred I听Lee
,听MD, PhD
Yale University School of Medicine
New Haven,听
CT
Adult Classical Hematology
Payal听Desai
,听MD
Wake Forest University
Charlotte,听
NC
Adult Classical Hematology
Hanny听Al-Samkari
,听MD
Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Boston,听
MA
Adult Classical Hematology
Sumithira听Vasu
,听MD, MBBS
The Ohio State University
Columbus,听
OH
Adult Malignant Hematology
Basem听William
,听MD
OhioHealth Marion General Hospital
Columbus,听
OH
Adult Malignant Hematology
Sara听Wall
Ohio State University Medical Center
Columbus,听
OH
Adult Malignant Hematology
Nirali N.听Shah
,听MD
NIH
Bethesda,听
MD
Pediatric BMT/CAR-T
Rayne听Rouce
,听MD
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston,听
TX
Pediatric BMT/CAR-T
Abdullah Mohammad听Khan
,听MD, MBBS
The Ohio State University
Columbus,听
OH
Adult BMT/Cellular Therapy
Naresh听Bumma
,听MD
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
COLUMBUS,听
OH
Adult BMT/Cellular Therapy
Monique A.听Hartley-Brown
,听MD
DFCI
Boston,听
MA
Adult BMT/Cellular Therapy
Sajad听Khazal
MD Anderson Medical Center
Loma Linda,听
TX
Pediatric BMT/CAR-T
Mikkael A.听Sekeres
,听MD
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami,听
FL
Adult Malignant Hematology
Oyebimpe听Adesina
,听MD,MS
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Sacramento,听
CA
Adult Classical Hematology
Yi听Zheng
,听PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati,听
OH
Pediatric Hematology
Steven听Fein
,听MD,MPH
University of Miami
Miami,听
FL
Private Practice Hematology
Elaine S.听Jaffe
,听MD
National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health
Bethesda,听
MD
Government Careers (NIH and FDA)
Maria听Chaudhry
Bristol Myers Squibb
Madison,听
NJ
Industry Careers
Alisa S听Wolberg
,听PhD
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill,听
NC
Laboratory and Translational Hematology
Sandhya听Panch
National Institutes of Health
Seattle,听
WA
Medical Educators in Hematology
Sarah H.听O'Brien
,听MD,MSc
Ohio State University
Columbus,听
OH
Pediatric Clinical Hematology
Margaret听Goodell
,听PhD
Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine
Houston,听
TX
PhD Careers
Ashok听Pai
University of California
Oakland,听
CA
Systems Based Hematology
Ebru听Koca
Baskent University
Ankara,听
Turkey
International Opportunities Hematology
Lisa听Baumann Kreuziger
,听MD, MS
Versiti
Milwaukee,听
WI
Maternal Health
James S.听Blachly
,听MD
The Ohio State University
Columbus,听
OH
Medical Informatics & AI
Rebecca听Kruse-Jarres
,听MD,MPH
University of Washington
Seattle,听
WA
Lifespan Hematology
Ashley听Rosko
,听MD
The Ohio State University
Columbus,听
OH
Geriatric Hematology
Srikanth听Nagalla
Baptist Health South Florida
Miami,听
FL
International Graduate Hematology
66th ASH Annual Meeting and exposition
Registration for ASH members will open on July 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.
Registration for non-members, groups, exhibitors, and media opens on August 7, 2024.