ASH News Daily 2017 - Issue 2 - C-3

Sunday, December 10, 2017

ASH News Daily

Page C-3
®

ASH Meeting on Hematologic Malignancies:
Smaller Meetings Enable Big Conversations

or many hematologists, opportunities to interact with
experts and colleagues in a
more intimate setting are a major
draw to smaller meetings. At such
events, attendees look forward to
hearing advice from experts that
can be applied to their practice in
a meaningful way. In the hem/onc
arena, the ASH Meeting on Hematologic Malignancies (MHM)
offers precisely this kind of opportunity - core malignancies covered include leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes,
myeloma, and myeloproliferative
neoplasms.
Through the "How I Treat" program structure, session speakers can
showcase evidence-based treatment
approaches, present cutting-edge
scientific data that can be translated
into new diagnosis and treatment
strategies, and recommend courses
of action in cases where no/sparse
data are available. As a presenter at
the September 2017 MHM, Dr. John
C. Byrd of The Ohio State University
recognizes the impact of the meeting for both senior hematologists,
as well as fellows and trainees. For
him personally, the 2017 meeting
was an invaluable review resource
as he prepared for a hematology
recertification taking place in October. "The lectures on different
hematologic malignancies were focused on real-life distinguishing issues that apply to how patients are
counseled relative to their disease,
and how treatments are best assigned." He noted that the fast pace
of knowledge related to areas such
as genomics, and their integration
with newly approved therapies, can
be overwhelming for many practicing hematologists and subspecialists. But he believes MHM is able to
provide an avenue for attendees to
learn about rapidly developing areas as well as specialties that extend
beyond the norm.
Of course the networking opportunities and possibilities for dialogue were another highlight for
Dr. Byrd. "It was wonderful to meet
with many junior investigators beginning their hematology careers, to
provide advice along with my more
seasoned gray-haired friends, and
to sustain and rekindle relationships
related to professional work over the
past two decades," he said. "This is
a valuable meeting for me to attend
and it is great that ASH has taken up
the challenge to implement such an
impactful learning event."
Dr. Bryan Hambley was an attendee in 2017, just on the heels of
his first couple of months in fellowship. "After reading introductory

articles as a resident, I thought the
meeting would come at a good time
as I started my fellowship training
and focused on learning treatment
approaches to the most common hematologic malignancies." Dr. Hambley shared that he loved the focus
on high-yield questions and cases
and thought the speakers were outstanding. He added that the panel
sessions were also great, as many
questions focused on issues he had
seen come up in clinic recently.
The meeting went even further by

providing the opportunity to hear
about approaches to these issues
from not just one, but several experts. "I found myself thinking 'we
were just talking about that question
in clinic, but now I get to hear a longer thought process on the issue.'"
Specifically, Dr. Hambley enjoyed obtaining a more nuanced
understanding of choosing tyrosine-kinase inhibitors in chronic
myeloid leukemia treatment and
how to approach relapsed multiple myeloma. He enjoyed meet-

ing several senior hematologists,
both speakers and attendees, and
concluded, "Overall, it was a great
experience, and I would highly recommend it for fellows in their first
year or two of training."
The 2018 ASH Meeting on Hematologic Malignancies will take
place September 7-8, 2018, at the
Marriott Marquis in Chicago.
Keep an eye out for the full schedule and program, which will be
available on the ASH website at
www.hematology.org/malignancies.

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

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) Foundation is helping
hematologists conquer blood diseases worldwide through support for
research, career development, quality care, and education.
Text to donate now and help ASH Foundation advance
hematology worldwide.
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11/3/17 4:46 PM

http://www.hematology.org/malignancies

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASH News Daily 2017 - Issue 2