Newsletter May 2012 - European Hematology Association

Contents
President’s Message 1
Hematology in Focus:
- The Clonal Dilemma in Multiple Myeloma 2
- Combinatorial chemoimmunotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade 4
Quality of Life-Do your patients perceive it the same way as you do? 6
2011 European CME Survey Report 8
First Educational Exhibition 10
Collaboration with Scientific Working Groups 11
EHA-ASH Translational Research Training in Hematology 12
EHA Young Investigator Fellowship Award 14
EHA Scientific and Educational Events 17
EHA Outreach Program: strategy and implications 17
17 th Congress of the European Hematology Association 18
Two new councilors appointed to the EHA Board 22
Members of EHA Committees and Units 23
Upcoming Congresses 24
Colophon 24
EHA Newsletter November 2012
President’s Message
Dear Colleagues,
A periodical like the Newsletter makes one aware of time and
how fast it passes. Six month ago I was writing for the May
issue about the things ahead of us: exciting initiatives, collaborations
and of course the Congress in Amsterdam. In our
pursuit to realize EHA’s strategic plan initiatives have been
further developed, rolled out and executed and in this
Newsletter I would like to update you on them.
Collaboration with the EHA Scientific Working Groups
In previous Newsletters you can find articles about the developing
collaboration with the EHA Scientific Working Groups,
for example the organizing of high quality in depth scientific
meetings together. To this extent we can proudly say that the
first EHA-SWG Scientific Meeting “Focus on Neutropenia and
other Genetic Marrow Failures” in
Genoa (Italy) last September, under
the inspiring chairmanship of Carlo
Dufour, proved a very promising pilot.
A report of the meeting can be
found on page 11. Additional meetings
will be scheduled for next year.
EHA Congress in Amsterdam
We can look back at a successful
Congress, not only in terms of numbers
but also in terms of the quality
of data and the high level of science
that was presented. An overview of
the 17 th Congress activities is shown
on page 18-21, including contributions
by Paolo Ghia, David Grimwade
and Anna Falanga who report on the
congress program’s scientific highlights
in the lymphoid and myeloid
malignancies as well as scientific
highlights in hemostasis and thrombosis. This reflects our interests
in both non-malignant and malignant hematology.
In Amsterdam the topic of drug shortage was addressed in the
EHA-ASH joint symposium. Following this symposium a joint
press release from EHA, the American Society of Hematology
and the European Cancer Patient Coalition headed “International
Call to Action to Alleviate Drug Shortages” was sent
out to worldwide media. EHA is now asking hematologists,
health workers, pharmacists and patients to report shortages
in drugs on the website www.ehaweb.org in order to collect
information about the situation in Europe.
For the third year the Patient Advocacy Session at the Congress
proved to be a huge success. To further expand the
collaboration with the Patient Organizations EHA has also
decided to create a Patient Advocacy track, a program tailored
by, and for, Patient Advocates on the Saturday during the 18 th
Congress of EHA in Stockholm (June 13-16, 2013).
Outreach expanded
Sharing knowledge and experience, as well as intensifying
international collaboration, is important for the further
development of hematology, and our Outreach Program contri
butes to this. Over the years the program has expanded and
it will continue to do so in the future. Contacts with China,
Korea, Russia, Oman and South Africa have been established.
In addition the good collaboration with India and Turkey will
continue. Please have a look on page 17 for a full overview.
CME – Come, Meet & Engage
In striving to develop and deliver high quality medical education
EHA believes strongly in the power of Continuing Medical
Education (CME) accreditation. In order to guarantee quality,
the independent CME Unit reviews
applications from event organizers
according to very strict standards and
guidelines. In 2011 a survey was conducted
to investigate national CME
practices; results and follow-up are
described on pages 8-9.
For an overview of all confirmed and
EHA-CME accredited EHA scientific
and educational events please see
page 17.
EHA has always been committed to
the importance of science in hematology.
In this Newsletter, the editors
Irene Roberts and Tony Green have
introduced a new section dedicated to
science: Hematology in Focus.
Former EHA Fellowship winners were
asked if they would like to write an
article on a current topic in hematology.
Both Florian Kuchenbauer (Germany) and Alan G
Ramsay (United Kingdom) have made interesting contributions
on pages 2-5.
A look into the future
Recently the EHA Board discussed how the Association could
further support research, career development and medical
education in hematology. The EHA Board has decided to
boost investment in all three areas by setting up specific
projects. So please follow the news on our website.
In June 2012 we welcomed two new Board members; Andreas
Engert from Germany and Gert Ossenkoppele from The
Nether lands. I am proud to introduce them to you in this
News letter.
Ulrich Jäger, EHA President
EHA Newsletter November 2012 > 1