Annual Meeting Sessions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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Blood Journals Studio

Distinguished Abstract Achievement Award Ceremony

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Halls G-H - Blood Journals Studio

This event will honor the research of this year's Distinguished Abstract Achievement Award winners, including our partnered awards and the Outstanding Abstract Achievement Award which recognizes the top scoring abstracts in each trainee category (undergraduate, graduate, medical student, resident, and post-doctoral fellow). This event will be moderated by Dr. Christopher Flowers.

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Education Program

A Little Less Conversation, a Little More Action: An Outcome Equity Roadmap for Children and AYAs With Leukemia and Lymphoma

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 9:30 a.m. - 10: 45 a.m. Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina , Marriott Grand Ballroom 2-4

Centuries of structural racism have contributed to discrimination, environmental and social injustice, and household material hardship among historically marginalized populations. Recent studies have highlighted the impact of factors such as income and insurance status on cancer outcomes and health equity. Under-representation of specific groups has limited our understanding of cancer risk, disease biology, treatment-related toxicities, and patient-reported outcomes. The educational objective of this session is to present the latest evidence regarding modifiable factors that contribute to outcome disparities in childhood/adolescent and young adult (AYA) hematologic malignancies, and to discuss potential targets for interventions that address these disparities. Dr. Ji will present an in-depth overview of public health insurance programs in the U.S. and related implications on outcome disparities among AYAs with blood cancers. Using a case-based approach, Dr. Ji will discuss opportunities to improve access to high-quality public health insurance, subsequent to the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Umaretiya will discuss the role of social determinants of health (SDOH) as modifiable drivers of outcome inequities in pediatric oncology. She will review the prevalence of SDOH in pediatric oncology, present historically marginalized parent perspectives on unmet social needs during cancer care, and highlight novel interventions addressing this population’s SDOH and social needs. Dr. Mittal will discuss factors contributing to low rates of enrollment of AYAs with hematologic malignancies to clinical trials, including a lack of availability and accessibility. She will provide an up-to-date review of collaborative initiatives that are addressing some of these barriers to improve AYA access to cancer clinical trials.

Chair:

Maria Monica Gramatges, MD,PhD
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston,  TX

Speakers:

Xu Ji, PhD
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta,  GA
The Lasting Impact of the ACA: How Medicaid Expansion Reduces Outcome Disparities in AYAs With Leukemia and Lymphoma

Puja J. Umaretiya, MD
Childrens Medical Center Dallas, UT Southwestern
Dallas,  TX
Targeting Hardship: Poverty as a Modifiable Risk Factor in Childhood Leukemia and Lymphoma Treatment

Nupur Mittal Nupur Mittal
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago,  IL
Sharing is Caring: A Network Collaborative Approach to Identify and Address Barriers in Accessing Clinical Trials in AYAs with Leukemia and Lymphoma

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Hematologic Management of the Patient with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Room 28 A-D

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HBM) has an important impact on the physical, emotional and social well-being, and in adolescents, can be the only clinical sign of an underlying bleeding disorder. Due to several medical, economic and social factors, it remains a significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. Hematologists play an important role in the evaluation and care of patients with anemia from chronic blood loss, and may be the first clinicians to identify HMB as its cause.  This education session will describe a clinical multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and treatment of patients presenting with HMB, with a special focus on adolescents. It will provide an overview of diagnostic and management strategies to broaden the tools available to hematologists caring for these patients in different clinical settings.

Dr. Allison P Wheeler will discuss the various tools available for the quantification of menstrual blood loss, including those that evaluate the effect of HMB on quality of life; followed by a description of non-surgical (hormonal and non-hormonal) treatments of HMB, their efficacy, contraindications and selection of the most appropriate therapy using shared decision-making.

Dr. Juliana Perez Botero will present a focused approach to laboratory testing (screening and confirmatory) for patients presenting with HMB in whom von Willebrand Disease is suspected, with emphasis on the effect of pre-analytical variables and testing methodology on the results and their clinical interpretation.

Dr. Janice Staber will discuss the value of multidisciplinary clinics specializing in the care of adolescents with HMB, including their critical components and different care delivery models, and share important lessons learned during the development and implementation of one of these clinics.

Chair:

Juliana Perez Botero, MD
Mayo Clinic
Rochester,  MN

Speakers:

Allison P Wheeler, MD/MSCI
Washington Center for Bleeding Disorders
Seattle,  WA
Quantifying Menorrhagia and Overview of Non-Surgical Management of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Juliana Perez Botero, MD
Mayo Clinic
Rochester,  MN
Von Willebrand Disease and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: When and How to Test

Janice Staber, MD
University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital
Iowa City,  IA
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Clinics for Adolescents

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Sex Hormones, Contraceptives, and Thrombotic Risk: Where Are We Now?

Monday, December 9, 2024, 2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Room 29

Venous thromboembolism is a common disease, with an incidence of one to three per 1000 individuals per year. Numerous risk factors are known, which can be divided into genetic and acquired. One of the most well-known acquired risk factors is exposure to endogenous (i.e. pregnancy) and exogenous female hormones, including oral contraceptive use, hormone substitution therapy, and gender-affirming hormone therapy. Thrombosis specialists are frequently consulted about optimal hormonal therapy in individuals with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, as well as optimal management of pregnancy-related venous thromboembolism.

Dr Leslie Skeith will cover contraceptive-related VTE risk by agent and by clinical scenario, including in patients with inherited thrombophilia, systemic lupus erythematosus with or without antiphospholipid antibodies or antiphospholipid syndrome, and sickle cell disease considering contraception. Relevant clinical practice guidelines are reviewed. A multidisciplinary approach to counselling is needed for patient-focused decision-making.

Dr Joseph Shatzel will explore the hematologic complications of gender-affirming therapy, with a particular focus on managing and mitigating the thrombotic risks linked to exogenous estrogen use. He will detail existing data on thrombotic risks reported in transgender individuals and provide insights from studies involving cisgender women and men who receive exogenous estrogen and testosterone, providing important contextual background. He will delve into strategies for addressing testosterone-induced erythrocytosis and iron deficiency in transgender individuals undergoing hormone therapy.

Dr Saskia Middeldorp will present clinical cases of VTE related to hormonal contraceptive use and pregnancy to illustrate key considerations for clinical practice. Practice points for primary VTE treatment and the evidence on the risk of recurrent VTE and bleeding in this population are detailed. The potential value of thrombophilia testing is described including the: “who, why, when, what and how”. We also discuss key aspects of shared decision making for anticoagulant duration, including a reduced dose anticoagulant strategy in hormone-related VTE.

Chair:

Saskia Middeldorp, MD, PhD
Radboud university medical center
Nijmegen,  Netherlands

Speakers:

Leslie Skeith
University of Calgary
Calgary,  AB, Canada
Estrogen, Progestin, and Beyond: Thrombotic Risk and Contraceptive Choices

Joseph J. Shatzel, MD
Oregon Health and Science University
Portland,  OR
Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy in the Transgender Patient: Influence on Thrombotic Risk

Saskia Middeldorp, MD, PhD
Radboud university medical center
Nijmegen,  Netherlands
Hormone-Related Thrombosis: Duration of Anticoagulation, Risk of Recurrence, and the Role of Hypercoagulability Testing

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The Expanding Landscape of Treatment for ITP

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 9:30 a.m. - 10: 45 a.m. San Diego Convention Center , Room 28 A-D

The management of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) has seen a renaissance in the available therapies and in the approach to patients with the diagnosis in recent years. This has lead to an expanding number of therapeutic options for patients and physicians to consider as they embark on their therapeutic journey with ITP. Dr. Waleed Ghanima will discuss the new approaches incorporating combination strategies in management of patients with ITP including suggestions for when to consider moving beyond mono therapy for ITP. Dr. Annemarie Fogerty will then discuss updates on ITP in pregnancy, a special category of ITP with implications for both maternal and fetal health and provide the most information on both treatments and outcomes. Finally, Dr. Michele Lambert will then describe current clinical trials (or recently completed) and provide information on novel therapeutics that are in development as well as the current treatment gaps where additional study is needed.

Chair:

Michele P. Lambert, MD
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia,  PA

Speakers:

Waleed Ghanima, MD,PhD
Østfold Hospital
Gralum,  Norway
Insights on Treatment of ITP: Algorithm for Management and Role of Multi-Modal Therapy

Annemarie E Fogerty, M.D.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston,  MA
Management of ITP during Pregnancy

Michele P. Lambert, MD
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia,  PA
On the Horizon: Upcoming New Agents for the Management of ITP

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Events

Poster Session I - Presentations (for in-person participants)

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Halls G-H

Take the opportunity to speak face to face with authors at their posters! Gain insight into their work, ask questions, and enjoy snacks and refreshments.

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Poster Session I - Viewing

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Halls G-H

Attendees are encouraged to browse posters on the virtual meeting platform via the poster flipbook and then walk the hall throughout the day to view them in person. Take yourself on a self-guided audio tour using the author's videos from the virtual meeting platform or PosterCast. Earbuds are available at the Poster Help Desk. 

As a reminder, posters displayed in the hall today can only be viewed in-person today; digital versions of all posters will be available on the virtual meeting platform for the duration of the meeting until your virtual subscription expires.

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Poster Session II - Presentations (for in-person participants)

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Halls G-H

Take the opportunity to speak face to face with authors at their posters! Gain insight into their work, ask questions, and enjoy snacks and refreshments.

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Poster Session II - Viewing

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Halls G-H

Attendees are encouraged to browse posters on the virtual meeting platform via the poster flipbook and then walk the hall throughout the day to view them in person. Take yourself on a self-guided audio tour using the author's videos from the virtual meeting platform or PosterCast. Earbuds are available at the Poster Help Desk. 

As a reminder, posters displayed in the hall today can only be viewed in-person today; digital versions of all posters will be available on the virtual meeting platform for the duration of the meeting until your virtual subscription expires.

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Poster Session III - Presentations (for in-person participants)

Monday, December 9, 2024, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Halls G-H

Take the opportunity to speak face to face with authors at their posters! Gain insight into their work, ask questions, and enjoy snacks and refreshments.

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Poster Session III - Viewing

Monday, December 9, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Halls G-H

Attendees are encouraged to browse posters on the virtual meeting platform via the poster flipbook and then walk the hall throughout the day to view them in person. Take yourself on a self-guided audio tour using the author's videos from the virtual meeting platform or PosterCast. Earbuds are available at the Poster Help Desk. 

As a reminder, posters displayed in the hall today can only be viewed in-person today; digital versions of all posters will be available on the virtual meeting platform for the duration of the meeting until your virtual subscription expires.

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Marquee Sessions

2024 Ham-Wasserman Lecture

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 12: 30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Hall B

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited red blood cell (RBC) disorder caused by either homozygous inheritance of the hemoglobin S mutation (HbSS), or compound heterozygous inheritance of the hemoglobin S mutation with another ß-globin chain abnormality. India has among the highest hemoglobin S allele frequencies in the world and the third-highest birth rate for babies born with HbSS. 

The Indian sickle cell haplotype is associated with the Arab-Indian or Asian haplotype and is associated with high fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels and hence, is believed to have mild clinical presentation as compared to other populations.  

 

In this lecture Dr. Dipty Jain will discuss the status of frequency, comorbidities, and management of sickle cell disease (SCD) in India, which is characterized by relatively high percentages of fetal hemoglobin, accompanied by mild to severe complications observed globally. Additionally she will talk about targeted newborn screening and fixed low dose of hydroxyurea in managing children with sickle cell disease in India. 

Dr. Jain will discuss the milestones and progress in understanding sickle cell disease (SCD) phenotype accelerated by the Government of India’s ambitious ‘’National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission 2023’’ with comprehensive guidelines and implementation of screening, treat, counsel, educate, development of technology and novel therapies including gene therapy specific to the requirement of India’s population with sickle cell disease (SCD). 

Chair:

Mohandas Narla, DSc
New York Blood Center
New York,  NY

Speaker:

Dipty Lalit Jain, MD
Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital
NAGPUR,  India
Sickle Cell Disease in Developing Countries

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Special-Interest Sessions

DEI Community Networking Lunch (for in-person participants)

Monday, December 9, 2024, 12: 00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina , Marina Ballroom D

This is a community-building and networking event for members that fall within the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) umbrella to gather and get to know each other across the varying and intersectional communities. This event is hosted by the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and aims to create space for ASH DEI communities and allies and, where possible, identify opportunities to learn more about the experiences and needs of these communities to allow ASH to have a greater impact in its DEI efforts. This year’s event will include inspiring remarks from a member of the committee and networking opportunities throughout.

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Health Equity Rounds Lunch

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 11: 30 a.m. - 12: 30 p.m. Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego , Coronado Ballroom AB

Health Equity Rounds are interactive, case-based discussions with an interdisciplinary panel to include hematologists, health equity/public health experts, patients, and patient advocates to discuss health equity issues within hematology. Lunch will be provided to in-person attendees.

CoChair:

Speakers:

Ash Blythe Alpert, MD, MFA
Yale School of Medicine
New Haven,  CT
Hematologic Aspects of Gender Affirming Care

Eric Scott Mullins, MD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati,  OH
Hematologic Aspects of Gender Affirming Care

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Health Equity Symposium: Race, Structural Racism and the Social Determinants of Health in Hematology

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 9:30 a.m. - 11: 00 a.m. San Diego Convention Center , Room 6DE

The misuse of race in medicine has far-reaching implications across practice, teaching, and research in hematology. This session is intended to explore what race is and what it is not, and illustrate how systemic factors, including racism, influence health care access and outcomes. The session will also explore strategies to tackle systemic racism in patient care and how to create conditions for equitable care for patients with blood diseases. Dr. Joseph L. Graves Jr. will provide a summary of the history of biological conceptions of race and describe modern evolutionary conceptions of race. He will then address how this understanding can be useful in employing the power of modern genomic tools applied to human biological diversity, including how the use of these tools completely unravels the false premises of racial medicine. Dr. Chanita Hughes Halbert will define health care disparities and describe the nature and distribution of social determinants of disparities in disease risk and outcomes. She will also provide an overview of structural racism and its impact on health care outcomes in diverse populations.

Chair:

Deirdra R Terrell, PhD
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma City,  OK

Speakers:

Joseph L Graves Jr., PhD
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro,  NC
The Myth of Race in Medical Science

Chanita Hughes Halbert, PhD
University of Southern California
Los Angeles,  CA
Structural Racism, the Social Determinants of Health, and Healthcare Outcomes – Understanding Inequity and What to Do About It

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Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) Networking Reception

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina , Marina Ballroom G

Join our HIP community to network and celebrate our awardees and their mentors at this reception following the oral presentations. 

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Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) Oral Presentations - Classical Hematology

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina , Marina Ballroom E

The Hematology Inclusion Pathway Presentations and Reception (previously known as Promoting Minorities in Hematology); ASH invites all interested meeting attendees to this event, which will showcase the research of our Hematology Inclusion Pathway awardees. This initiative is a comprehensive 13-year longitudinal career pathway of awards that strives to ensure that hematology reflects and serves the diverse world we live in. The highlight of the session will be oral scientific presentations from program participants. 

Speakers:

Abdi Abud
University of Missouri, Columbia
Saint Louis,  MO
Validation of a Natural Language Processing Tool for Identification of Acute Deep Venous Thrombosis

Valeria Brown
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Providence,  RI
Investigating the Role of Long Interspersed Element-1 (LINE-1) in Age-Related Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential (CHIP) Driven By JAK2 V617F Mutation

Esther Chioma Emenalom
University of California, San Diego
San Diego,  CA
A Study of Postpartum Hemorrhage and a Cryoprecipitate Intervention at Hospital Central De Maputo

Maria Fernanda Albuja Altamirano, MD
Lincoln General Hospital
New York,  NY
Incidence of Thrombotic and Bleeding Complications in Patients with Cancer Undergoing Lower Extremity Arthroplasty, an Administrative Database Study

Ashley Crosby, MD
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Winston Salem,  NC
Monocyte Distribution Width As a Marker of Red Cell Alloimmunization

Ayotola A. Fatola, MD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore,  MD
Evaluating the Role of Voxelotor and Percent Modified Hemoglobin (Hemoglobin X) on Laboratory and Clinical Responses in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Olisaemeka Ogbue, MBBS
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Rocky River,  OH
Can Emergency Hematopoiesis Due to Sepsis Lead to Clonal Hematopoiesis? Implications for Understanding the Pathogenesis of Clonal Evolution

Maria Feliz Norberto, MS
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx,  NY
Heterozygous DDX41 Mutations Promote Age-Dependent Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Dysfunction

Conroy O Field, MS
The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia,  PA
Role of Platelet Factor 4 in the Prothrombotic Nature of Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Sarah Mansour
Emory University
Atlanta,  GA
Methionine Sulfoxide and Other Metabolites from Bronchoalveolar Lavage Are Associated with Neutrophil-Dominated Lung Disease in Early Cystic Fibrosis

Olufunke Y. Martin, MD
Children's National Hospital
Washington DC,  DC
The Role of Red Blood Cell Vascular Adhesion Biomarkers in Understanding Sickle Cell Disease-Associated Chronic Pain

Walatta-Tseyon Mesquitta, BSc,DPhil
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston,  MA
Interrogating TCF15 Function in Native Hematopoiesis Using TCF15 Overexpression and Conditional Knock out Mouse Models

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Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) Oral Presentations - Health Services Outcomes

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina , Marina Ballroom F

The Hematology Inclusion Pathway Presentations and Reception (previously known as Promoting Minorities in Hematology); ASH invites all interested meeting attendees to this event, which will showcase the research of our Hematology Inclusion Pathway awardees. This initiative is a comprehensive 13-year longitudinal career pathway of awards that strives to ensure that hematology reflects and serves the diverse world we live in. The highlight of the session will be oral scientific presentations from program participants. 

Speakers:

Emily Franco, BA
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Davie,  FL
Exploring Mental Health in Sickle Cell Disease: Implementing Routine Psychological Assessment in a Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic

Rachelle Monteau
CUNY School of Medicine
New York,  NY
Outcomes of Adult ALL/LBL Patients from Diverse Backgrounds Treated in the United States between 2000 and 2022

Osariemen Ogiamien
University of California Riverside Science Library
Riverside,  CA
Neighborhood Socioeconomic/Environmental Disadvantage and Health Outcomes after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Margarita Vazquez Almonte
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Bronx,  NY
Parenthood While in Hematology: Perceived Barriers

Daniel Goyco Vera, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston,  TX
Outcomes of Patients Underrepresented in Pivotal Trials of CAR-T Cell Therapy

Michelle Nwachukwu, DO
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago,  IL
The Impact of Structural Racism on Molecular Subtypes and Survival Outcomes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

Ifeanyi Nnamdi Uche, MBBS
One Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center
Brooklyn,  NY
Examining the Impact of Body Mass Index on Outcomes in Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease: A Single-Center Study

Britney Bell, MD
Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Boston Medical Center
Boston,  MA
Integration of Health Literacy Universal Precautions into Clinical Practice as a Strategy to Improve Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies and Limited English Proficiency

Eden Ayele Biltibo, MD,MS
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville,  TN
Impact of Daratumumab in the Treatment of Vulnerable Transplant Eligible Multiple Myeloma Patients and Its Utilization in Blacks

Gerard Hills, MD
Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health
Indianapolis,  IN
A Step Toward Individualized Mortality Risk Prediction in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in a National EHR-Derived Population Dataset

Alexandra Power-Hays, MD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati,  OH
Alternative Dosing and Prevention of Transfusions (ADAPT): A Prospective Trial to Quantify the Change in Blood Transfusion Use with Hydroxyurea Treatment and the Feasibility of Pharmacokinetic-Guided Dosing in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia in Uganda

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Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) Oral Presentations - Malignant Hematology

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina , Marina Ballroom D

The Hematology Inclusion Pathway Presentations and Reception (previously known as Promoting Minorities in Hematology); ASH invites all interested meeting attendees to this event, which will showcase the research of our Hematology Inclusion Pathway awardees. This initiative is a comprehensive 13-year longitudinal career pathway of awards that strives to ensure that hematology reflects and serves the diverse world we live in. The highlight of the session will be oral scientific presentations from program participants.

Speakers:

John Roy R Lozada, MD
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis,  MN
An Integrated Systems Biology Approach to Understanding the Phenotypic and Functional Diversity of Natural Killer Cells in Cancer

Sofia E. Luna
Leland Stanford Stanford Junior University
Stanford,  CA
Engineering Hematopoietic Stem Cells to Generate Therapeutic Antibody Secreting B Cells

Fathima Mohamed
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis,  MN
Metabolic Regulation of the Germinal Center Reaction in Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease

Andres J Rubio, MS
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
El Paso,  TX
A Role for PSMD3 in Regulating Oxidative Energy Metabolism in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Catherine Gutierrez, MD, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston,  MA
Identifying Mechanisms of Resistance to ATR Inhibition in Myelodysplastic Syndromes with Splicing Factor Mutations

Kelly Meza, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston,  TX
Retrospective Analysis of the PET/CT Imaging Features of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) and Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) Patients

Joane Titus, MD, MS
University of Central Florida
Orlando,  FL
Retrospective Review of Care for Black/African American Veterans with Multiple Myeloma at the Orlando VA

Kalay Bertulfo, MS,MA,MPhil
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York,  NY
Therapeutic Targeting of JAK/STAT Signaling and Histone Acetyltransferase Activity in Post-Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Secondary AML

Quenton Bubb, MPhil
Leland Stanford Junior University
Stanford,  CA
Development of Multivalent Cell Therapies for Treatment of Hematologic Malignancies

Joice Kanefsky
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Philadelphia,  PA
Disruption of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis Drives Sting-Dependent Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cell Maturation and Death

Kristopher Adrian Knight
Emory University
Atlanta,  GA
Development of a Novel L-Asparaginase with Enhanced Properties Using Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction

Owhofasa Agbedia
MD Anderson Cancer Center
houston,  TX
Targeting Aggressive NK-Cell Leukemia and Other CD94-Expressing NK/T-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorders with CAR T-Cell Therapy

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LGBTQIA+ Community Networking Brunch (for in-person participants)

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 11: 00 a.m. - 12: 30 p.m. Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego , Coronado DE

This is a community-building and networking event for members of the LGBTQIA+ community attending the meeting. The event is hosted by the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and aims to create a sense of belonging and allyship. This year’s event will include an insightful panel discussion focused on being LGBTQIA+ across the hematology career spectrum, including the role of mentorship and the importance of inclusivity, as well as ample networking opportunities.

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Medical Educators Symposium

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina , Marina Ballroom FG

The Medical Educators Symposium (previously called the Hematology Course Directors Workshop) is open to all medical educators across the medical student, resident, and fellow continuum. The Medical Educators Symposium highlights cutting edge teaching techniques and theories while also showcasing participants of the ASH Medical Educators Institute. The symposium is two hours long and will begin with an hour of general sessions focused on medical education principles and then followed by simultaneous breakout sessions that happen twice.

Chair:

Hetty E. Carraway, MD,MBA
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland,  OH

Speakers:

Alison Loren, MD
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia,  PA
General Session 1: Paving a Career in Medical Education & Scholarship

Megan Murray Dupuis, MD, PhD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville,  TN
General Session 2: Utilizing Humanities to Influence and Tailor Hematology Curriculum for Adult Learners

Layla Van Doren
Yale University
New York,  NY
General Session 3: Incorporating Health Equity Education in UME/GME Curriculum

Alexander A Boucher, MD
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis,  MN
General Session 3: Incorporating Health Equity Education in UME/GME Curriculum

Beverly Schaefer, MD
University of Buffalo
Buffalo,  NY
Breakout 1: Challenges of Course Development

Ariela L. Marshall, MD
University of Minnesota
Rochester,  MN
Breakout 2: Developing Your Teaching Portfolio

Jason A Freed, MD
Beth Israel Deaconess
Boston,  MA
Breakout 3: Cutting-Edge Technology in Education Delivery

Thomas W. LeBlanc, MD,MA,MS
Duke Cancer Institute
Hillsborough,  NC
Breakout 4: Developing a Palliative Care/Difficult Discussion Curriculum

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Race and Ancestry in Precision Medicine

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Room 6DE

Race and ancestry, historically, have been poorly considered in basic and translational research design and clinical diagnoses. This session will describe how race and ancestry can inform hematology research conduct, specifically in clinical and genetic population profiling, interpretation of common hematologic tests, development of diagnostics, and overall precision medicine. The speakers selected in this session have incorporated race and ancestry in their own research and will be sharing their insights to help educate hematology investigators and clinicians understand how to consider race and ancestry into their own research and practice.

Dr. Fox will discuss the intersection between human population genetics, biomedicine, ancient genomics, and Indigenous data sovereignty. This talk will provide perspectives on why community consultation matters in genomics research and in the establishment of benefit-sharing models.

Dr. Eisfeld will discuss race-associated differences in the mutational landscape and the prognostic significance of molecular markers in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in Black patients. This talk will highlight the need for refinement of disease classification and molecular subtypes to enable personalized risk-stratification and treatment options for racially diverse populations.

Dr. Achebe has led the hematology community in incorporating Duffy-null status into clinical algorithms to improve health equity for Duffy-null individuals among Black and African American adults. This talk will highlight how inappropriate blood count reference ranges can propagate systemic racism.

CoChair:

Speakers:

Keolu Fox
University of California, San Diego
San Diego,  CA
Incorporating Indigenous Perspectives into Population Genetics

Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld, MD
The Ohio State University
Columbus,  OH
Risk Re-Stratification Based on Black AML Patient Exome Data

Maureen Achebe
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston,  MA
How Inappropriate Reference Ranges Can Propagate Systemic Racism

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Sickle Cell Disease Centers Session

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 9:30 a.m. - 11: 00 a.m. San Diego Convention Center , Room 33

To ensure high-quality care for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), it is imperative that providers and SCD care leaders have the tools to establish comprehensive clinical care centers for patients with SCD. Over the last several years, ASH has developed a program and blueprint for the creation of sickle cell disease centers. This special interest session is designed to help sickle cell disease care centers understand the development of CMS quality metrics and how to leverage these metrics to support delivery of high-quality care.

CoChair:

Speakers:

Alexandra Power-Hays, MD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Cincinnati,  OH
The Importance of Recognition of Pediatric Quality Metrics in SCD: The Role of US News and World Report

Titilope Fasipe, MD,PhD
Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers
Houston,  TX
The Creation of CMS Quality Metrics in the Treatment of Painful Episodes in the Emergency Department

Cecelia Calhoun, MD,MBA,MPH
Yale New Haven Hospital
New Haven,  CT
Leveraging Quality Metrics to Maintain Support of Your Sickle Cell Disease Center

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Symposium on Quality: Treating Fairly - The Role of Quality Improvement in Combating Health Care Disparities

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Room 11

This year's Quality Symposium will focus on practical strategies for combatting healthcare disparities. First, Dr. Melissa Creary will discuss the Michigan Social Health Interventions to Eliminate Disparities (MSHIELD) program, a statewide data-driven, community-partnered, and equity-centered quality improvement effort. Then Dr. Michelle Sholzberg will review the development and impact of the "Raise the Bar" project, which aims to eliminate disparities in the recognition and management of iron deficiency by adjusting reference ranges. The session will conclude with a talk by Dr. Thomas Greg Knight on mitigating the impact of financial toxicity in patients with hematologic malignancies.

CoChair:

Speakers:

Melissa Creary
University of Michigan School of Public Health
Ann Arbor,  MI
MSHIELD:  A Statewide Approach to Improving Equity Centered Quality Improvement

Michelle Sholzberg, MDCM, MSc
University of Toronto
Toronto,  ON, Canada
Raise the Bar - Combatting Disparities in the Recognition and Management of Iron Deficiency

Thomas G. Knight, MD
Atrium Health
Charlotte,  NC
Cancer and Poverty - Mitigating the Impact of Financial Toxicity in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

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Women In Hematology Networking Event (for in-person participants)

Monday, December 9, 2024, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego , Coronado Ballroom and Terrace

This popular annual networking event will provide a space where all can gather and connect with peers and potential mentors. The event includes a panel discussion focused on work life integration through a gender and career development lens. Hors d'oeuvres will be provided before and after the panel, along with desserts after the panel.

 

Spotlight Sessions

Biology Underlying Disparities in Lymphoid Malignancies

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina , Pacific Ballroom Salons 18-19

This session will focus on uncovering how disparities in lymphoid cancers may be influenced by both the tumor microenvironment and genetic sequencing. By examining different types of lymphomas, the speakers will highlight how biological and genetic factors contribute to the disparities observed in Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma for specific populations. This session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these factors interact and shape treatment responses, survival rates, and disease progression, offering insights into reducing healthcare inequities. Together, these presentations will underscore the importance of a multifaceted approach—encompassing both the tumor environment and genetic profiling—to tackling disparities in lymphoma treatment and outcomes.

Dr. Cozen will discuss the critical role the tumor microenvironment plays in influencing disease outcomes, specifically focusing on how immune cells, stromal cells, and signaling molecules create conditions that vary across multiethnic cohorts. The presentation will explore how these variations may contribute to the disparities seen in survival and treatment response in both Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma. She will also present recent findings that suggest the microenvironment's interaction with genetic and socioeconomic factors, shaping future approaches for research and interventions for these populations.

Dr. Flowers will delve into the role of tumor sequencing in identifying genetic mutations and biomarkers that may be disproportionately prevalent across ancestry groups. The presentation will also discuss the relationships between genomic data and disease phenotypes that can be modeled and may impact treatment efficacy and outcomes. He will discuss the implications of these findings for precision medicine, including the need for more inclusive genetic research to better understand and address these disparities.

CoChair:

Speakers:

Christopher R. Flowers, MD, MS
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston,  TX
Tumor Sequencing to Investigate Disparities in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Wendy Cozen, DO, MPH
UCI, School of Medicine
Orange,  CA
Tumor Microenvironment Profiling to Investigate Disparities in Hodgkin Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma

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Curative Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease: Option for Some but Not Quite All

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. San Diego Convention Center , Room 30

Despite substantial improvements in care, individuals with sickle cell disease continue to experience substantial morbidity and a shortened life expectancy. With recent advances in the development of curative therapies, including allogeneic stem cell transplantation and gene therapy, it is important to identify barriers to accessing these treatments and adequately define suitable candidates for curative therapies.

In this session, Dr. Santosh Saraf will review the current guidelines for curative therapies, discuss the potential benefits and risks of the different curative therapies, and provide insight on when to refer patients for curative therapy.

In the second presentation, Dr. Payal Desai will discuss the various barriers to accessing curative therapies as well as the need for development of an integrated care approach.

Chair:

Kenneth I. Ataga, MD
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis,  TN

Speakers:

Santosh L. Saraf, MD
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago,  IL
Curative Therapies in Sickle Cell Disease: Which Patient, What Modality, and When to Refer

Payal Desai, MD
Wake Forest University
Charlotte,  NC
Systemic Barriers to Curative Therapy and Need for Integrated Care

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Making a Match: Optimal Donor HLA and Beyond

Monday, December 9, 2024, 10: 30 a.m. - 11: 45 a.m. San Diego Convention Center , Room 24

Selection of the optimal donor for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) involves a comprehensive evaluation of several critical factors. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching has proved to be the most likely crucial parameter in this process. However, several additional criteria can significantly influence allo-HCT outcomes.

Dr. Heather Stefanski will discuss the patient’s likelihood and probability of having a fully HLA-matched donor and finding a suitable donor prior to allo-HCT. She will summarize the historical barriers to transplant, especially for racially and ethnically diverse patients. A special focus will be put on new strategies, including post-transplant cyclophosphamide and abatacept, which can allow for safe and effective use of HLA-mismatched donor sources such as haploidentical donors and mismatched unrelated donors.  Dr. Stefanski will highlight the research evidence that shows alternative donors are a viable and safe option for many allo-HCT recipients.

Dr. Mohamad Mohty will discuss the non-HLA factors which can contribute to further optimizing the selection of a donor prior to allo-HCT. These factors include the age of the donor (especially data favoring younger donors), recipient-donor gender mismatch and its impact on graft-versus-host disease, cytomegalovirus serostatus, and blood type compatibility. Dr Mohty will also briefly discuss the potential role of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) matching, and donor-recipient kinship.

By integrating HLA and non-HLA variables into the donor selection process, one can significantly enhance the outcome of patients who are candidates for allo-HCT.

Chair:

Mohamad Mohty, MD,PhD
Saint-Antoine Hospital
Paris,  France

Speakers:

Heather E. Stefanski, MD,PhD
CIBMTR® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research), NMDP
Minneapolis,  MN
HLA: Optimizing the ’Full HLA Match’

Mohamad Mohty, MD,PhD
Saint-Antoine Hospital
Paris,  France
Beyond HLA: Optimizing Non-HLA Variables

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Trainee Activities and Services

Blood Buddies: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Wednesday, December 6, 2024, 1:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. Gaslamp Quarter , Café Sevilla Restaurant

Trainees have the opportunity to meet with leaders in the field. Trainees sign up for a one-on-one Blood Buddy ten-minute mentoring session with a faculty member. Blood Buddies are experts in various hematology topic areas. This is an excellent opportunity for trainees to network with and receive mentorship from seasoned faculty. There are 3 Blood Buddies sessions at the event. Although the speakers roles are marked as primary and alternate, multiple speakers may be asked to present on the same topic if that topic will be repeated in the following sets of Blood Buddies. The featured topics are: Adult Clinical Malignant Hematology; Pediatric Clinical Malignant Hematology; Adult Clinical Classical Hematology; Pediatric Clinical Classical Hematology; BMT Pediatric and Adult; Quality Improvement; Medical Education; PhD/Laboratory; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; International Medical Graduates; Future of Hematology (Artificial Intelligence); Industry Career Pathway; Federal Career Pathway.

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Career Development Lunch

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 11: 15 a.m. - 12: 15 p.m. Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego , Coronado Ballroom

This session provides an intimate venue for trainees to meet with leaders in hematology to discuss careers in the wide array of practice areas within hematology, including basic, clinical, and translational research, PhD careers, careers in industry settings, and careers in private and clinical practice. There will are multiple tables dedicated to each career area and one faculty member at each table leading the discussion. A boxed lunch is provided. This is a first come, first served event that is usually very-well attended. The full list of topics covered are: Adult BMT; Pediatric BMT; Adult Clinical Malignant Hematology; Adult Clinical Classical Hematology; Clinical Careers in Hematology (Private Practice Careers); Government Careers (NIH and FDA); Industry Careers; Laboratory and Translational Hematology; Medical Educators in Hematology; Pediatric Clinical Hematology; PhD careers; Systems-Based Hematology; Global Hematology; Maternal Health; Medical Informatics and AI; Lifespan; and Geriatric Hematology.

Chair:

Leidy Isenalumhe
Moffitt Cancer Center
Lutz,  FL

Yvonne A. Efebera, MD
Ohio Health
Columbus,  OH

Speakers:

Rakhi P. Naik, MD
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore,  MD
Hematology-Focused Fellowship Training Program (HFFTP)

Robert Stern
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
Boston,  MA
Hematology-Focused Fellowship Training Program (HFFTP)

Pallawi Torka, MD
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Buffalo,  NY
International Graduate Hematology

Shruti Chaturvedi, MBBS
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore,  MD
International Graduate Hematology

Tanya Wildes
University of Nebraska
Omaha,  NE
Geriatric Hematology

Alexander A Boucher, MD
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis,  MN
Lifespan Hematology

Matthew J. Maurer, DSc
Mayo University
Rochester,  MN
Medical Informatics and AI

Lars Bullinger
University of Ulm
Berlin,  Germany
Medical Informatics & AI

Paula James, MD, FRCPC
Queen's University
Kingston,  ON, Canada
Maternal Health

Ali Bazarbachi, MD, PhD
American University of Beirut Medical Center
Beirut,  Lebanon
International Opportunities Hematology

Kohei Hosokawa, MD, PhD
Kanazawa University
Kanazawa,  Japan
International Opportunities Hematology

Vishal Kukreti
University Health Network
Toronto,  ON, Canada
Systems Based Hematology

Shannon Elf, PhD
The University of Chicago
Chicago,  IL
PhD Careers

Parvathi Ranganathan, PHD
Ohio State University
Columbus,  OH
PhD Careers

Sara Vesely, PhD
The Univ. of OK Health Sciences Ctr.
Oklahoma City,  OK
Pediatric Clinical Hematology

Angela C Weyand, MD
University of Michigan Medical School
Ann Arbor,  MI
Pediatric Clinical Hematology

Andrew Volk, PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati,  OH
Laboratory and Translational Hematology

Sanjay Mohan, MD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville,  TN
Medical Educators in Hematology

Tapan M. Kadia, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston,  TX
Medical Educators in Hematology

Randal Joseph Westrick, PhD
Oakland University
Rochester,  MI
Laboratory and Translational Hematology

Danielle Townsley
Astra Zeneca
Potomac,  MD
Industry Careers

E. Leila Jerome Clay, MD
Johns Hopkins
Watertown,  MA
Industry Careers

Julie A. Panepinto, MD, MSPH
Division of Blood Diseases and Resources, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Bethesda,  MD
Government Careers (NIH and FDA)

Cara Rabik, MD,PhD
Food and Drug Administration
Silver Spring,  MD
Government Careers (NIH and FDA)

Adrienne M Hammill, MD, PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati,  OH
Pediatric Hematology

Emily Saul
Columbus Oncology and Hematology
Columbus,  OH
Private Practice Hematology

Maria Carter Febres, MD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Cincinnati,  OH
Pediatric Hematology

Alfred I Lee, MD, PhD
Yale University School of Medicine
New Haven,  CT
Adult Classical Hematology

Payal Desai, MD
Wake Forest University
Charlotte,  NC
Adult Classical Hematology

Hanny Al-Samkari, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Boston,  MA
Adult Classical Hematology

Sumithira Vasu, MD, MBBS
The Ohio State University
Columbus,  OH
Adult Malignant Hematology

Basem M. William, MD, MRCP(UK), FACP
OhioHealth
Columbus,  OH
Adult Malignant Hematology

Sara Wall
Ohio State University Medical Center
Columbus,  OH
Adult Malignant Hematology

Nirali N. Shah, MD
NIH
Bethesda,  MD
Pediatric BMT/CAR-T

Abdullah Mohammad Khan, MD, MBBS
The Ohio State University
Columbus,  OH
Adult BMT/Cellular Therapy

Naresh Bumma, MD
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
COLUMBUS,  OH
Adult BMT/Cellular Therapy

Monique A. Hartley-Brown, MD
DFCI
Boston,  MA
Adult BMT/Cellular Therapy

Sajad Khazal
MD Anderson Medical Center
Loma Linda,  TX
Pediatric BMT/CAR-T

Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami,  FL
Adult Malignant Hematology

Oyebimpe Adesina, MD,MS
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Sacramento,  CA
Adult Classical Hematology

Yi Zheng, PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati,  OH
Pediatric Hematology

Steven Fein, MD,MPH
University of Miami
Miami,  FL
Private Practice Hematology

Elaine S. Jaffe, MD
National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health
Bethesda,  MD
Government Careers (NIH and FDA)

Maria Chaudhry
Bristol Myers Squibb
Madison,  NJ
Industry Careers

Alisa S Wolberg, PhD
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill,  NC
Laboratory and Translational Hematology

Sandhya Panch
National Institutes of Health
Seattle,  WA
Medical Educators in Hematology

Sarah H. O'Brien, MD,MSc
Ohio State University
Columbus,  OH
Pediatric Clinical Hematology

Margaret Goodell, PhD
Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine
Houston,  TX
PhD Careers

Ashok Pai, MD
Kaiser Permanente
Oakland,  CA
Systems Based Hematology

Ebru Koca
Baskent University
Ankara,  Turkey
International Opportunities Hematology

Lisa Baumann Kreuziger, MD,MS
Versiti
Milwaukee,  WI
Maternal Health

James S. Blachly, MD
The Ohio State University
Columbus,  OH
Medical Informatics & AI

Rebecca Kruse-Jarres, MD,MPH
University of Washington
Seattle,  WA
Lifespan Hematology

Ashley Rosko, MD
The Ohio State University
Columbus,  OH
Geriatric Hematology

Srikanth Nagalla
Baptist Health South Florida
Miami,  FL
International Graduate Hematology

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Hearts of Hematology (HoH)

Wednesday, December 6, 2024, 3:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. Gaslamp Quarter , Hasta Mañana Cantina

Hearts of Hematology captures the humanistic side of hematology/hematology-oncology through a collection of personalized short stories and other artistic pieces.  This year we will kick-off HoH by showcasing seven stories representing a wide range of topics and diverse group of individuals. This gathering will include a few of the authors. Trainees from all levels and backgrounds are welcomed to join in this safe space for an opportunity to reflect on their experiences and bring the community closer.

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Plenary Session: ASH Talk #2 International Medical Graduates

Wednesday, December 6, 2024, 2:10 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Gaslamp Quarter , Main Stage

The ASH Talk sessions are 20-minute presentations, similar to a TED Talk, with dynamic speakers presenting timely topics. ASH Talks are the core plenary sessions of ASH-a-Palooza that take place at the top of each hour. The talks contain little to no slides and draw the entire audience of ASH-a-Palooza together, between the other microlearning and networking sessions that occur throughout the event (Blood Drops and Blood Buddies).

Chair:

Kaitlyn C Dykes, MD,BS
University of California San Diego
La Jolla,  CA

Speaker:

Jane S Hankins, MD,MS
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis,  TN
International Medical Graduates

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