Erin Gourley Reid, MD

2010-12-04

The wealth of information and opportunities available at an ASH annual meeting can be overwhelming even for seasoned attendees, but for trainees or first-time attendees, it can be paralyzing. Fortunately, the ASH leadership, with input from the ASH Trainee Council, has developed dedicated resources and sessions designed to nurture the future of hematology. Beginning with Trainee Day yesterday, trainees and junior faculty have multiple tailor-made opportunities each day through Monday to make the most of the annual meeting. Here are a few sessions to look forward to:

Today

Grant Writing for Junior Faculty (7:30 to 9:00 a.m., Convention Center Room 314)

Whether you fancy clinical or basic research or something in between, this session promises pearls of wisdom that are hard to come by. Drs. David Williams, Stephanie Lee, and Jeffrey Molldrem will be unraveling the mysteries that stand between your good idea and a funded project. There will be extra time allotted for discussion; NIH representatives will be available to answer your questions. As grant funding is one of the first crucial steps of a research career, this should be high on your priority list.

Career-Development Lunch Sessions

(11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Peabody Orlando, Barrel Spring I/II, Peabody Orlando, Manatee Spring I/II)

Hungry? If you sport a blue badge, hurry over to one of the career-development lunch sessions to satiate not only your stomach but, more importantly, your mentoring needs. Space is limited so arrive early for a chance to meet with one of more than 30 distinguished researchers and physicians representing a broad range of career paths in hematology. (Faculty list appears on pages B18-21 of today’s issue). Leave your shyness at the door — these mentors can help you more if you let them know who you are and where you want to go.

Junior Faculty Development: The Economics of Academic Hematology

(4:00 to 5:30 p.m., Convention Center Room 314)

For those aspiring to a career in academic hematology, this session, chaired by Dr. Navneet Majhail, is critical to career satisfaction and success. Dr. Stephen Hunger, who plans to discuss salary negotiations, will also summarize the importance of understanding career economics: “Despite the fact that they have had more than a decade of higher education and training and are in their late 20s or early 30s, hematologists trying to land their first ‘real job’ as a faculty member will find it a new and often bewildering experience. To be successful, you have to understand the economics of faculty positions and the various ways in which you can generate revenue and be sure that you and the person that hires you have a common vision for what you need to accomplish to be deemed successful,” Dr. Hunger said.

Sunday and Monday

Trainee Simultaneous Didactic Sessions

(Sunday 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and Monday 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., Convention Center Room 315)

More food and mentoring is planned for lunch Sunday and Monday. On Sunday, Dr. Lillian Sung will present “Practical Biostatistics 101,” which will be relevant to clinical and basic research, while Drs. John Strouse and Jonathan Licht will discuss “How to Transition from Trainee to Faculty.” On Monday, Dr. Cynthia Dunbar, current Editor-in-Chief of Blood, will reveal “How to Write and Publish a Manuscript in a Peer-Reviewed Journal” while Drs. Julie Hambleton and Thomas Abshire will explore “The Road Less Traveled: Careers in Hematology You May Not Have Known Existed.”

And, what should you do when your brain is on fire from information overload? Just stop, drop, and roll into the Trainee Lounge (Convention Center Room 206), where you can cool off and recover with complimentary refreshments, access the Internet, or meet with colleagues; the lounge is open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday through Monday and from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Tuesday.

Finally, as you return to your training program armed with the sword of knowledge and shield of mentorship, don’t forget to take advantage of the trainee portion of the ASH website (www.hematology.org/Training) for a host of resources designed to catapult you toward the hematology career of your dreams.

Dr. Reid indicated no relevant conflicts of interest.