A Reunion Every December: How HIP Shaped My Path in Hematology

My interest in hematology has unfolded much like hematopoiesis itself: it began as a broad, undifferentiated curiosity and became more committed and specialized with time. ASH’s Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) guided that differentiation through mentorship, clinical exposure to hematology patients, and research opportunities. In particular, having the combination of a research and career mentor in hematology (acting as transcription factors and cell signals) earlier on during training helped me both refine my skills as a researcher and build toward a meaningful career in pediatric hematology. I have participated in HIP as a medical student, as a resident, and now as a fellow, and few experiences in my lifetime have shaped my career as profoundly.

As a medical student, my fascination with hematology was rooted in patient stories rather than deep scientific understanding. HIP gave that curiosity structure through intentional mentorship. Drs. Kathy Sakamoto and Michael Jeng helped me explore research in pediatric hematology more broadly during medical school, and in doing so helped me realize that I might one day contribute to the field. During residency, Drs. Natasha Archer and Amy Sobota helped me hone in more specifically on my interests within pediatric sickle cell disease care by modeling comprehensive care for these patients and including me in research projects when possible.

HIP has made me a better scientist through its rigorous application process and multiple opportunities to share my scholarly work at the HIP Presentations and Networking Reception during the ASH Annual Meeting. Beyond presenting my own work, I have attended that session every year to learn from my colleagues and help provide additional trainee perspectives through thoughtful engagement with their work. Through the research I have conducted in HIP, I have improved my ability to ask patient-centered questions with systems-level implications, to welcome critiques, and to ground my work in the communities it is meant to serve. It also steered me, decisively, toward a career in academic pediatric classical hematology, where I hope to pay forward the investment HIP placed in me.

HIP has also changed how I experience ASH itself. The annual meeting can be overwhelming, with overlapping sessions, crowded halls, and a schedule that never seems long enough. Early on, it felt that way to me. Today, HIP has turned the annual meeting into a reunion. Each December, familiar faces are waiting: peers who have become colleagues and friends, as well as career mentors such as Drs. Arturo Molina and Titi Fasipe, who check in on how I am doing and how my projects are progressing. As a Black man caring for children who share my racial identity, I have also found in this community affirmation that I belong—and that belonging made it possible to keep going.

For trainees considering HIP, here are a few thoughts:

• Start with your story. Explain why hematology matters to you, not just what you have done. Patient stories are a legitimate place to begin.
• Ask for what you need. Mentors cannot guess your goals, so arrive with specific questions and follow up after the meeting. For example, if you would like to present at the next ASH meeting but don’t have a current project you’re working on, ask your mentor for ideas! They will likely have many potential ways for you to get involved, and reaching out early can set you up for success.
• Stay connected. Relationships formed in December are sustained throughout the rest of the year and beyond. Share an abstract, a draft, or a setback with your mentors to cultivate lasting bonds with your colleagues.

I am deeply grateful to the mentors, sponsors, and peers who have built and sustained HIP. The program did not simply open a door for me. It showed me a community already standing on the other side. If you are wondering whether there is a place for you in hematology, THERE IS! HIP is a wonderful place to begin.