Contents President’s Message 1 <strong>Hematology</strong> 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 <strong>European</strong> CME Survey Report 8 First Educational Exhibition 10 Collaboration with Scientific Working Groups 11 EHA-ASH Translational Research Training in <strong>Hematology</strong> 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 <strong>European</strong> <strong>Hematology</strong> <strong>Association</strong> 18 Two new councilors appointed to the EHA Board 22 Members of EHA Committees and Units 23 Upcoming Congresses 24 Colophon 24 EHA <strong>Newsletter</strong> November <strong>2012</strong> President’s Message Dear Colleagues, A periodical like the <strong>Newsletter</strong> makes one aware of time and how fast it passes. Six month ago I was writing for the <strong>May</strong> 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 <strong>Newsletter</strong> I would like to update you on them. Collaboration with the EHA Scientific Working Groups In previous <strong>Newsletter</strong>s 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 <strong>Hematology</strong> and the <strong>European</strong> 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 <strong>Newsletter</strong>, the editors Irene Roberts and Tony Green have introduced a new section dedicated to science: <strong>Hematology</strong> 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 <strong>Association</strong> 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 <strong>2012</strong> 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 <strong>Newsletter</strong> November <strong>2012</strong> > 1