In April 1958, the first official ASH meeting was held in Atlantic City, NJ, where more than 300 hematologists gathered to discuss clinical and research matters related to blood and blood diseases. Since that initial meeting, ASH has played an active and important role in the development of hematology as a discipline. For more than five decades, ASH has sponsored its annual meeting, the premier annual education and scientific event in the field of hematology, and has published Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology, which is the most cited peer-reviewed publication in the field.
In 2008, ASH celebrated its 50th anniversary and used this historical milestone to reflect on the progress that has been made in the field.
This video features vignettes from notable hematologists about the rich history of the Society and the field.
This brochure highlights the top advances made in the field of hematology during the last half century.
In this article, the late Dr. Ernst R. Jaffé (1983 ASH president) and Dr. Kenneth A. Kaushansky (2008 ASH president) discuss the origins of the Society and its journal, Blood.
Learn more about each of these distinguished leaders by taking a tour through the Gallery of ASH Presidents.
Read about the many hematologists who have been instrumental in the development of ASH and have greatly advanced the field through their contributions in research, practice, and teaching. This section features notable leaders profiled as part of ASH's 50th anniversary, oral history interviews, and photographs.
Each month Blood, the Society's scientific peer-reviewed journal, will publish historical reviews about advances made in the field.
ASH Receives Congratulations on its Anniversary
ASH received congratulations on its 50th anniversary from Senators Arlen Specter and Tom Harkin and Representatives Michael Castle and Jesse Jackson. All four are long-time supporters of increased funding for biomedical research at NIH.
ASH gives thanks to those supporters who have made a special gift in honor of the Society's 50th anniversary.
