ASH celebrates the past and prepares for the future.

ASH has never wavered from its commitment to supporting hematologists around the world. This year was a remarkable year for the Society in that regard. We celebrated incredible milestones in our programs, continued our important advocacy, and launched tremendous projects that will shape hematology research and practice for years to come.

ASH’s strong legacy of supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion was evident with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the ASH Minority Recruitment Initiative (MRI). Since the program’s inception, ASH has invested more than $15 million, giving out more than 500 awards to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. We have already begun to see the impact of these awards on our field. For example, the retention rate of ASH’s Minority Medical Student Award recipients in hematology is significantly greater than the national estimates of hematology faculty from under-represented backgrounds, and we are delighted to see MRI participants and alumni advancing science and serving in leadership roles within the Society. (Read more in the MRI Impact Report).

ASH continued efforts to address hematology workforce shortages through a $19 million investment to increase the number of hematology-focused fellowship tracks at institutions across the country. The ASH Hematology-Focused Fellowship Training Program (HFFTP) welcomed its first cohort of 10 fellows across nine institutions in 2023. Inspired by ASH’s bold initiative, four HFFTP Alliance Partner institutions have followed suit in funding five additional single-track hematology fellowships beyond the 10 supported by ASH. As a direct result of this effort, we anticipate graduating 75 new hematology fellows by 2030.

Another critical program celebrated 20 years in 2023. Since its launch, the Clinical Research Training Institute (CRTI) has provided essential training to the next generation of clinical hematology researchers. It has since expanded globally, connecting researchers from all over the world.

This year, the Blood journals portfolio welcomed two new journals to provide a home for the increasing volume of cutting-edge hematology research: Blood Vessels, Thrombosis, & Hemostasis and Blood Neoplasia. In the current climate where predatory journals proliferate, authors can be assured that the growing collection of Blood journals will continue to provide high-quality, peer-reviewed publishing options under the ASH brand, while readers will have more trusted options for staying up to date on the latest science. (Read more in The Hematologist).

For more than two decades, ASH has challenged the foundational assumption that the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program leads to positive practice changes and improves patient care, and the Society has been a leading voice in advocating for changes to the system. In response to a mounting chorus of concerns from the membership, ASH sent a letter to ABIM urging them to adopt a new approach that fosters lifelong learning, supports continuous professional development without excessive burdens, and prioritizes transparency. Recently, I was delighted to be named as the leader of a task force to continue this important work, and I look forward to sharing updates on our progress in 2024.

Lastly, let’s not forget the momentous news at the end of 2023 that brought the approval of the first gene therapies for sickle cell disease (SCD). This is another area in which the Society has committed significant funding over a period of years, and it’s rewarding to know that ASH was instrumental in fostering this important progress in the treatment of SCD, which has been overlooked and underfunded for too long. While the two new gene therapies are a start, ASH will continue to advocate for the critical need for comprehensive care for the SCD community.

It has been an honor to serve as ASH president during such a pivotal year. ASH remains true to its mission to improve the lives of patients with blood and bone marrow disorders. We do this by supporting the best hematology has to offer – outstanding research of all types; new treatments to help our patients live longer and better; training, education, and grant programs to ensure we bring “new blood” into our field and support those already in it; and strong advocacy efforts.

Of course, we couldn’t do any of this without you – our members, donors, supporters, and volunteers! This report is dedicated to all who came together as a community to help conquer blood diseases worldwide.

Thank you,
Robert A. Brodsky, MD
2023 ASH President