2009-11-03
(WASHINGTON) - The American Society of
Hematology (ASH) is honoring two prominent hematologists with ASH Mentor Awards
in recognition of the important role they play in the training and career
development of hematologists early in their careers. Stuart H. Orkin, MD, and Arthur
W. Nienhuis, MD, will receive their awards during the 51st ASH Annual Meeting
in New Orleans.
Dr. Orkin, who will be receiving the
Mentor Award for Basic Science, is the David G. Nathan Professor of Pediatrics
at Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Chairman of Pediatric Oncology at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. He has mentored more than 70
highly successful academic physicians and scientists in the field of
hematology, and is known to instill confidence in his trainees to think
independently, to see the big picture, and to stay focused. One of his former
trainees commented, “It’s never a question of time and commitment, it’s just
natural. You [can] send him an e-mail, you [can] call him up, [if] you’ve got a
question, he’s just there and makes the time to provide the kind of input that
you’re seeking.”
Dr. Nienhuis is a member and emeritus
director of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and will be receiving
the Mentor Award for Clinical Investigation. During his career at St. Jude, and
prior to that at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), he has mentored many
individuals, with more than 90 percent of his students and fellows remaining
engaged in academic hematology-oncology or gene therapy research at leading
research institutions worldwide. Some of his trainees have gone on to become
presidents and directors at academic institutions or cancer centers, NIH
Institute directors, department chairs, and editors-in-chief of Blood and Seminars in Hematology. According to one of his former trainees,
“Despite his being incredibly busy, even when he was president of ASH, he always had time to chat.”
Drs. Nienhuis and Orkin will be
formally presented with their awards prior to the Plenary Scientific Session on
Sunday, December 6, at 1:30 p.m. in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in
New Orleans.
The ASH Mentor Award was established
in 2006 to recognize hematologists who have excelled at mentoring trainees and
colleagues. Those selected to receive the award are chosen because they have
shown a sustained commitment to mentoring, have made a significant, positive
impact on their trainees’ careers, and have advanced research and patient care
in the field of hematology through their trainees and their trainees’ trainees.
Two awards are given each year, one in the basic sciences and one in clinical
investigation and training. Awardees are selected from a group of candidates
nominated by individuals whose careers they have helped shape.
Reporters who wish to arrange an interview may contact
Patrick C. Irelan, ASH Communications Assistant, at 202-776-0544 or
pirelan@hematology.org.
The American Society of
Hematology (www.hematology.org)
is the world’s largest professional society concerned with the causes and
treatment of blood disorders. Its mission is to further the understanding,
diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting blood, bone marrow,
and the immunologic, hemostatic, and vascular systems, by promoting research,
clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. ASH provides Blood: The Vital Connection (www.bloodthevitalconnection.org),
a credible online resource addressing bleeding and clotting disorders, anemia,
and cancer. The official journal of ASH is Blood
(www.bloodjournal.org), the most cited
peer-reviewed publication in the field, which is available weekly in print and
online.
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