After the success of last year’s inaugural Updates in Hematology CME event, organizers justifiably saw little need to change much in the format, duration, or location. With the same snow-covered Kinnick Stadium behind them as last year, attendees filled a section of the McCord press box to hear the latest on a variety of topics in hematology.
Instead of intense, hour-long dives into just a few topics, organizers scheduled eight speakers at only 30 minutes a piece, reserving ten minutes for audience response. This kept presentations focused and reduced
Steven Lentz, MD, PhD, section chief of Hematology and director of the Medical Scientist Training Program, welcomed guests before turning the lectern over to Michael Tomasson, MD, professor in Internal Medicine and course director for the event. Tomasson, who is also director of the Hematopoietic Malignancies Section within the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center (HCCC), gave an overview for the day as well as a summary of new therapeutics in multiple myeloma. Carlos Vigil, MD, finished the first morning session with a review of acute myeloid leukemia treatments.
The second morning set covered updates in treating cancer-associated thrombosis and immune thrombocytopenia from Grerk Sutamtewagul, MD. He was followed by Sabarish Ayyappan, MD, who addressed the variety of chronic lymphocytic leukemias and their treatments. A brief box lunch followed, allowing attendees and presenters to continue the conversation, to catch up, or to just take in the view high above the Hawkeyes football field.
After lunch it was back to work. Umar Farooq, MD, covered the current status of the still-novel field of CAR T-cell therapy. David Dickens, MD, adolescent hematologist in the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, spent his time covering adolescent and young adult lymphocytic leukemia and the differences in treatment approach this patient population requires.
Collaboration was the watchword for the final sessions. Aaron Bossler, MD, PhD, pathologist from the Molecular Pathology Laboratory presented on the wide variety of tests his lab can run to aid providers in diagnosis. Melissa Bates, PhD, is the director of Bone Marrow Procurement and the Leukemia Molecular Epidemiological Resource. Bates described a number of studies and trials conducted in concert with providers within the HCCC revealing interesting results and making a difference in patients’ lives.
A second success may be harder than a first, but this event’s organizers made that look easy.