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Dr Yeong Jer Lim
"These 3 reasons have not only given me motivation in my career as a haematologist to further expand my knowledge and to deliver the best care to my patients, but also have contributed to my development as a well-rounded haematologist."
I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience attending the 60th annual American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Diego for numerous reasons. I greatly benefited from the extensive and well planned programme and was struck by how much effort in placed into educational sessions that are geared towards haematology trainees. I have definitely improved and updated my knowledge of the pathophysiology, diagnostic and management process of various haematological diseases. One session that I found particularly interesting was titled “Low Iron Promotes Megakaryocytic Commitment of Megakaryocytic-Erythroid Progenitors in Human and Mice1“ which showed the pathophysiological process behind why iron deficiency anaemia is often accompanied by thrombocytosis. A question many times asked during my medical student teaching sessions that I am unable to answer.
Secondly, I also had the opportunity to present a poster titled “Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Autologous or Allogeneic Donor Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Behçet’s Syndrome” and had another abstract that I co-authored titled “Randomized Trials of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis of Overall Mortality” being presented as an oral poster. Being given this opportunity has definitely further developed my interest in research and have motivated me to continue to be involved in research in a local and national level whenever the opportunity arises.
Thirdly, this annual meeting has given me the opportunity to interact with haematologists from all around the globe. We were able to exchange experiences and I was able to see how haematological conditions are being managed differently in other developed or developing countries which has opened my eyes and given me a broader perspective of the overall issues surrounding haematology.
In conclusion, these 3 reasons have not only given me motivation in my career as a haematologist to further expand my knowledge and to deliver the best care to my patients, but also have contributed to my development as a well-rounded haematologist.
References: Low Iron Promotes Megakaryocytic Commitment of Megakaryocytic-Erythroid Progenitors in Human and Mice. Juliana Xavier-Ferrucio, Xiuqi Li, Vanessa Scanlon, Ping-Xia Zhang, Nadia Ayala-Lopez, Toma Tebaldi, Stephanie Halene, Karin E. Finberg and Diane S. Krause. Blood 2018 132:2; doi: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2018-99-115214