As I reflect on the end of this first official day of the ASH Conference, I must say that I feel HOPE and GRATITUDE. I pored over the very complicated ASH Agenda. The IMF-SGL team of veterans and newbies is well-organized and so generous with sharing lessons, hints, and strategies to get the most out of this opportunity.
My focus was on studying the agenda and setting my personal ASH schedule, listening to pre-recorded sessions, and participating in the day’s live educational sessions. I came to this meeting hoping to see evidence of health equity and translational research from “bench to bedside to curbside.”
It is stated throughout the agenda that each program at ASH is expected to demonstrate diversity. In every part of the program, there was an expressed intentional focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). There is an Anti-racism Studio with presentations each year to raise awareness and encourage a thoughtful approach to race (ism) in medicine.
Props to Dr. Deepika Darbari (Children’s National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences), who received an ASH award for leadership in diversity. She is engaged in the mentorship and training of underrepresented minority researchers and in advancing the care for underrepresented patient populations, primarily individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD).
While at Howard University, an HBCU, she saw firsthand many disparity issues, such as inadequate funding, limited treatment options, and biases and stigma. She also learned about barriers to career development that minority students faced. There is hope that a new generation of scientists will bring their unique talents to the research agenda. They can use their unique perspectives to ask and answer questions that can help to unravel the mysteries of myeloma.
My educational sessions were a dive into the deep end of the pool, with a great harbinger of things to come. “High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Treatment at Relapse” was the topic of the pre-recorded session from a Spain presenter. The live session was a series of case studies for which five international physician-scientist experts from France, Spain, and the U.S. and the audience responded to Zoom polls on the best course/s of treatment.
The session was aptly entitled “Adapting Clinical Practice to a Rapidly Changing Therapeutic Landscape.” This is one of my favorite types of sessions. It’s a reminder that myeloma is a complex disease that can require a complex response to get it under control. I was reminded of the deep pipeline of ongoing myeloma research and of the need to adapt treatment to the individual, their type of myeloma, and their lifestyle.
The “HOPE” is that there are approved treatment options or clinical trials for almost every scenario. The need for continuous education for multiple myeloma specialists, community oncologists, and primary care doctors is crystal clear. I HOPE one day that the protocol for any physician who treats myeloma is that they schedule a telemedicine conference that includes the patient.
These specialists respectfully disagreed on several points, but we were able to hear and appreciate their reasons for the divergence. It was like a Masterclass for the physicians/clinicians in the audience. We could see from the polls their votes on the appropriate regimen – pre-and post-presentation. In some cases, there was a dramatic change in their opinions.
In addition to the regimen, the presenters did not shy away from the expense related to some treatments versus others and the availability of certain drugs. Insurers can sometimes determine whether a particular treatment will be approved. Some prerequisites for regimens make them inaccessible to entire populations of myeloma patients.
So, there is much to be about. This first day heightens my HOPE for a cure. I am eternally GRATEFUL for the curious and determined researchers, physicians, providers, patients, caregivers, and sponsors, and others who together move us towards a cure.
Gail G. McCray, on Twitter: @IMFgailMyeloma
Myeloma researchers and experts from around the world present and discuss case studies.