At the end of the year, it is natural to reflect on the past 365 days; my personal highlight of the year was walking across the Beatles' famous Abbey Road crossing, in St. John’s Wood, London, on August 10, 2022. In the same vein, the ASH annual meeting provides the hematology world’s year in review — an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the accomplishments of the Society and its members. And as our lives have returned to some semblance of normalcy and we take a moment to reminisce on prepandemic times, most (if not all) of us are obsessing over returning to New Orleans for a feast of scientific discoveries. Moreover, we are relieved to learn about the safety measures on site including provisions for medical evacuations. Read on for the Editor’s eye on the program to help you prepare for #ASH22.
The Classical Edit
Bringing on the revival of classical hematology is the ASH Practice Partnership Lunch on Sunday, December 11, with a discussion centered on practice, compensation, and education in classical hematology. We are thrilled to embrace a vital shift in terminology, as efforts to train the next “classical” leaders take center stage with the newly formulated hematology-focused fellowship training program.
Mardi Gras
A festive ASH-a-Palooza filled with fun learning awaits trainees and mentors at the Mardi Gras World.
Maternal Health and Diversity Matters
We anticipate a fruitful dialogue following recap of the society’s maternal health advocacy efforts at the ASH Grassroots Network Lunch on Saturday, December 10. For a continued conversation on maternal health, please tune in to a special case-based discussion on Monday, December 12. Also make sure to drop in at the Health Equity Rounds Lunch on gender disparities in bleeding disorders taking place on Sunday, December 11, and the Health Equity Studio for a broader understanding of inequities in health care, plus strategies to overcome disparities not only in patient care and clinical trials, but also in career development. Incidentally, the Women in Hematology Networking Dinner on Monday, December 12, features an inspirational lecture on “Building Your Dream Career, Come What May.”
An Eclectic Collection of Science
The Education and Scientific Program and abstracts cover the gamut of hematologic science with sessions on classical and malignant hematology, including bone marrow failure, pediatrics/adolescents and young adults (AYA), new technologies (immunotherapies, gene-editing), applications of artificial intelligence/machine learning reflective of the Society’s diversity, equity, and inclusion mission. We are particularly excited for the Education and Scientific spotlight sessions and the named and honorific lectureships (E. Donnall Thomas and Ernest Beutler), which are an added treat each year. And all eyes on the Plenary Scientific Session abstracts to provide new insights into scientific breakthroughs and therapeutic interventions.
The Unrelenting COVID-19
As we recalibrate our practice, there is no better way to review the latest on COVID-19 thrombosis, infection, and vaccines than at this year’s Presidential Symposium taking place Tuesday, December 13.
A Wellness Retreat
Invigorate your body and mind at the ASH Foundation Walk/Run on Sunday, December 11. Incidentally, four days at the meeting means you would have walked more than 80,000 steps, navigating your way around the convention center. After all that, make sure to unwind at the ASH Wellness Studio, catch up on the latest meeting news through ASH News Daily and remember to bookmark the quintessential crossword curated by Dr. David Steensma in Saturday’s edition. And all soccer fans can count on a unique FIFA World Cup experience at the ASH Park @ the Plaza, just outside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center!
On behalf of the ASH News Daily team, please accept my warm welcome to #ASH22. As versatility remains at the heart of the meeting, we are eager to connect with our loyal readers in-person in New Orleans and/or through the virtual meeting platform, including on social media.
Dr. Gangat indicated no relevant conflicts of interest.
About the Editor: Dr. Naseema Gangat (@n_gangat) graduated from medical school at Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan, and attended Mayo Clinic College of Medicine for her internal medicine residency and hematology/oncology fellowship. She continues to call the Mayo Clinic and Rochester, Minnesota, home and is currently a professor of medicine in the division of hematology. 2022 marks Dr. Gangat’s third serving on the ASH News Daily editorial board — she was an Author in 2018, became Editor in 2021, and clearly is really having fun with this. Outside of hematology, Dr. Gangat is also a bona fide fashionista. “I share an equal passion for keeping up with the latest fashion scene through visits to Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, and Sloane Street, London,” she said. Last year, she had the good fortune to explore Hollywood’s elusive “San Vincente Bungalow” during the Burberry AW21 runway experience, and more recently, she made it to the Abbey Road Crossing, which was made famous by a rock band.
