ASH Treasurer Joseph Mikhael, MD, is a professor in the Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix, Arizona, an affiliate of City Hope Cancer Center. He is also the chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF).
1.If you were to compile a bucket list, what would top that list?
More travel to places I have yet to see.
2. What ASH luminary do you most admire? Who’s your ASH-lebrity?)
Armand Keating. He was one of my first mentors. He introduced me to ASH (I joined the very first Trainee Council over 20 years ago), and he taught me to foster others’ careers above mine.
3. What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
My father, on the day I was admitted to med school, said two things: Treat nurses as the professionals they are, and God made you with two ears and one mouth for a reason: Listen to your patients.
4. When I’m down, … brings me up.
My amazing wife, Emily.
5. What’s your one can’t-miss presentation or event at the ASH annual meeting?
I have to provide two: The Annual Joe Lunch (I host a lunch for anyone I have mentored over the years, and we have a fun meal all together) and the Plenary (amazing science, great introducers, and broadens your whole heme, basic and clinical, understanding in one sitting).
6. What’s your hidden talent?
I can literally sleep at will (paying off my sleep mortgage, I guess). Most nights I fall asleep in less than 10 seconds.
7. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Sushi.
8. What’s been your greatest success?
Investing myself into my wonderful children and my mentees. Seeing their successes make me so happy.
9. When starting my career, I wish I had known …
Career success is not a sprint: Take your time and enjoy life at every step.
10. What’s your favorite CD or album?
I simply love listening to Handel’s Messiah (but not while I am running).