2008-12-07
The ASH Mentor Award was established in 2006 to recognize hematologists who have excelled at mentoring trainees and colleagues. Those selected to receive the award are chosen because they have shown a sustained commitment to mentoring, have made a significant, positive impact on their mentees’ careers, and have advanced research and patient care in the field of hematology through their mentees.
This award is based on the training experiences and success of the nominee’s mentees, not the mentor’s personal career achievements. Those selected as superb mentors are chosen because they are involved in the process of guiding, supporting, and promoting the training and career development of others. Two awards are given each year, one in the basic sciences and one in clinical investigation and training.
The 2008 ASH Mentor Awards are being presented to George Buchanan, MD, for clinical investigation, and Timothy Ley, MD, for basic science.
Dr. Buchanan is a pediatric hematologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He is the Children’s Cancer Fund Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Oncology and Hematology and the director of the Barrett Family Center for Pediatric Oncology. Believing that a mentor should identify and foster talent in its earliest stages, Dr. Buchanan has mentored everyone from high school students to senior investigators. His mentoring does not end when someone leaves the institution; he keeps in contact with his mentees and continues to work with them and provide support. He has been described as a constant mentor. One of his mentees said, “I mentor as George would have mentored me.”
Dr. Ley is an associate director for basic science at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University, in St. Louis, MO. He is known as someone who sets an extremely high standard of personal integrity and scientific rigor, and he passes that on through his commitment to his trainees and his advocacy of scientific education. Dr. Ley is interested in training the next generation of physician scientists and to do this he is willing to make sacrifices so that his mentees have every chance for success. Even his administrative duties are directly related to mentoring through his involvement in national committees that address the workforce of the future and the development of the NIH Loan Repayment Program.
Drs. Buchanan and Ley will be formally presented with their honors during the Plenary Scientific Session today at 1:30 p.m. in the Moscone Center, Hall B and C.
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