Laura C. Michaelis Named 6th Editor-in-Chief of The Hematologist
(WASHINGTON, January 22, 2018) — Laura C. Michaelis, MD, an expert in leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative neoplasms, has been named Editor-in-Chief of TheHematologist: ASH News and Reports, the official member news magazine of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). The sixth Editor-in-Chief of the publication, Michaelis will serve from 2018 through 2020, and takes over from Jason Gotlib, MD, MS, of Stanford University School of Medicine.
“TheHematologist really flourished under Jason’s leadership,” said Michaelis. “I look forward to building upon his legacy while utilizing my own skills and experiences to further engage our membership and advocate for our calling.”
As associate professor of medicine and associate vice chair of the Department of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin/Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Michaelis comes to hematology after an early career in journalism, having previously reported for outlets including the Chicago City News Bureau, the Los Angeles Times, and Congressional Quarterly.
One of the first initiatives that Dr. Michaelis will oversee is the launch of The Hematologistmobile app, slated to debut early this year. This app will allow subscribers to read the newsletter while on the go, and will also enhance interaction with multimedia offerings like rich graphics, informative videos, and lively podcasts designed to educate readers and foster discussion.
Dr. Michaelis also looks to increase collaboration through a new semi-regular column that will analyze areas of clinical practice that could be improved with more robust data. “By examining areas of practice with little or no data informing care, I hope that we can encourage readers to speak out, team up, and conduct the research needed tackle issues that hematologists face every day.”
In addition to enhancing the publication’s introspective approach, Dr.Michaelis is interested in exploring how external forces influence hematology. “I want to hear from readers about how regulations and governmental policies affect their day-to-day practice,” said Dr. Michaelis about a first-person essay series she has proposed. She is also considering inviting practitioners from other specialties — such as cardiology or rheumatology — to weigh in on how their fields intersect with hematology.
“From my colleagues researching tomorrow’s cures to those administering them to their patients, every hematologist benefits from informed discussion and friendly debate,” said Dr. Michaelis. “I’m humbled and excited to be a part of bringing that to hematology and the medical community at large.”
Dr. Michaelis is joined by a 12-member board of contributing editors, consisting of clinical and research physicians from around the globe with focuses in both malignant and non-malignant hematology. The Hematologist is published six times per year and covers important developments in hematologic research, clinical practice, and health care policy, as well as important updates about Society events, initiatives and services. TheHematologist podcast is produced monthly, and is available in the Apple podcast store, SoundCloud, and through TheHematologist homepage.
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) (www.hematology.org) is the world’s largest professional society of hematologists dedicated to furthering the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood. For more than 50 years, the Society has led the development of hematology as a discipline by promoting research, patient care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. ASH publishes Blood (www.bloodjournal.org), the most cited peer-reviewed publication in the field, which is available weekly in print and online. In 2016, ASH launched Blood Advances (www.bloodadvances.org), an online, peer-reviewed open-access journal.
Contact:
Stephen Fitzmaurice American Society of Hematology
sfitzmaurice@hematology.org; 202-552-4927