ASH News Daily 2017 - Issue 3 - B-17

Monday, December 11, 2017

ASH NEWS DAILY

Page B-17
®

Dameshek Prize
«« From Page B-1

multiple myeloma, and has made
significant contributions to understanding the biological basis of
transformation of hematopoietic
cells by somatic mutations. This
extensive work has demonstrated
creativity, innovative methodology, and direct human relevance
in transforming our basic understanding of hematopoiesis. His
work has already been translated
to novel treatment paradigms in
myelodysplasia and bone marrow
failure disorders and will have an
impact on a much broader range of
diseases in the future. Despite these
accomplishments, Dr. Ebert primarily sings the praises of his colleagues,
highlighting the importance of his
mentors in particular.
Dr. Ebert expresses gratitude
and admiration for three mentors
who have been his professional advisors and role models: Drs. Peter
Ratcliffe, Frank Bunn, and Todd
Golub. He explains that Dr. Ratcliffe, his PhD advisor at Oxford
University with whom he worked
with on regulation of erythropoietin expression, taught Dr. Ebert
how to be a scientist - stressing
the analysis of scientific problems
from every possible angle, and determining the best experiment to
yield the most definitive answer.
Dr. Bunn, a past ASH president
and the Coulter Award recipient
in 2009, is the mentor Dr. Ebert
has most wanted to emulate during his career, for his enormous
scientific contributions, his skill as
a clinician, and for being a masterful teacher. Finally, his postdoctoral
mentor Dr. Golub taught Dr. Ebert
how to "think big" - to ask the
important questions, to have the
courage to address really difficult
problems and articulate them with
clarity, and to take advantage of
new technologies to answer longstanding questions. Additionally,
during his time as a graduate student at Oxford University, Dr. Ebert looked up to investigators Drs.
Doug Higgs and David Weatherall.
As a mentor himself, Dr. Ebert feels enormously proud of the
progress of his mentees. "I find it
extremely exciting and rewarding
to see trainees gain confidence as
researchers, become independent
investigators, and flourish scientifically and clinically." He explained
that the most satisfying aspect of his
career has been watching his trainees' progress and success. "I look
forward to ASH every year as a reunion of former trainees and an opportunity to hear about the exciting
work that each of them is doing."
From the time in high school
when he discovered his passion

for teaching after starting his own
math tutoring business, Dr. Ebert
has worked to teach clinicians in
the same way he taught the kids
he tutored - specifically, not to
be afraid of the tough questions.
"So many of the kids I tutored
who had trouble in math were
actually just afraid of it. My role
was often just to help them realize
that it wasn't that hard, and they
then became excited to be able to
do it. I see that still today; clinicians may think that biochemistry
is difficult, geneticists may think
clinical medicine is impenetrable,
and biochemists may think com-

"ASH has provided my
primary intellectual
home since I was a
postdoctoral fellow.
I have enjoyed every
opportunity to work
with ASH and feel
particularly honored to
receive an award
from the Society."
- Dr. Ebert
putational approaches are unfathomable. However, all these scientists eventually develop a grasp

for these disciplines given time
and effort." Dr. Ebert still enjoys
such teaching opportunities and
remarked that a favorite part of
his day is talking through experiments with members of his lab. He
finds it exciting to hear about new
data and ideas, to dissect difficult
problems, and engage in enriching, challenging, and rewarding
conversations with colleagues.
Dr. Ebert will be recognized tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in Hall C2-C3
(Georgia World Congress Center)
by ASH President Dr. Kenneth Anderson, himself a previous William
Dameshek Prize recipient.

We dream of a
day when there is
a cure for every
blood disease.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASH News Daily 2017 - Issue 3