Shalini Shenoy, MD, serves as chair of ASH’s Publications Committee. She is professor of pediatrics in the Division of Hematology/Oncology and director of the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.
1. If you were to compile a bucket list, what would top that list?
Travel to different countries, meet people and other species that inhabit different lands and learn more about how they navigate the art of living, compare and contrast, and hopefully imbibe the best from each country!
2. What ASH luminary do you most admire? (Who’s your ASH-lebrity?)
I would have to choose Dr. Evan Sadler, past ASH president. He was the director of hematology at WashU Medicine when I was a trainee and junior faculty member. During trainee presentations, he made it a point to listen to and respect every point of view that was discussed by colleagues, staff, and trainees, though he knew far more than any of us did. He gently corrected errors, but otherwise just piqued your interest enough to make you go look up more detail for advanced learning. He enhanced my love for hematology, immunology, and — ultimately — transplant.
3. What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Never assume you know better, no matter what the subject. Sometimes, new informative pearls show up if you are willing to listen and discuss without bias (a very hard thing to do).
4. When I’m down, _____ brings me up.
An hour with my rescued pets!
5. What’s your one can’t-miss presentation or event at the ASH annual meeting?
I have to say the presentations that go with the awards. I love to hear how luminaries got to where they were, and how varied the paths to success are. This also tells me that all one has to do is follow one’s interest and passion; the rest is all someone else's business!
6. What’s your hidden talent?
“Animal whisperer.”
7. If you could wave a wand and change one thing about the practice of medicine, what would that be?
Access. I feel fortunate to be at the forefront of innovation and to be able to use all of the advances made, but I wish these advances would be easily accessible quickly to those folks who need them most.
8. What do you see as the next big advance in hematology?
The ability to (1) correct genetic disorders in utero and (2) easily correct multi-gene defects safely.
9. When starting my career, I wish I had known …
How to more effectively identify and narrow down my passions — the intersection between immunology and transplant. I did eventually get to the transplant team via an immunology lab, and for that I am grateful.
10. What’s your favorite movie?
They say you remember your childhood vividly as age advances. I have many happy family memories associated with The Sound of Music. And I don't think I even realized the bigger picture of the conflicts, biases, and war that drove the story at that time.
