Shaji K. Kumar, MD
Laura C. Michaelis, MD
Shaji K. Kumar, MD, an expert in multiple myeloma and monoclonal gammopathies, has been appointed to the position of Editor-in-Chief of The Hematologist: ASH News and Reports, the official member news magazine of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). As the seventh Editor-in-Chief of the publication, Dr. Kumar will serve from 2023 through 2025, following Laura C. Michaelis, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Froedtert Hospital, who served in the role for 5 years.
“Dr. Michaelis has had a truly transformative impact on The Hematologist,” said Dr. Kumar. “I am honored to follow in her footsteps and strive to advance the momentum she and the previous editors have built with this publication and companion podcast. I’m looking forward to making The Hematologist a medium for our community to connect over and to encourage participation from underrepresented minority, female, and junior faculty hematologists.”
A Vision for The Hematologist
Dr. Kumar’s vision for The Hematologist includes increasing content, engaging a broader and more diverse audience across the spectrum of medical communities, and leveraging the use of social media and multimedia platforms. Through traditional print and online content as well as podcasts, he also aims to increase participation from junior faculty, fellows, and trainees, to provide them with opportunities for mentorship, network building, and professional development in science communications.
“Nothing has highlighted the need for communication as clearly as the events that have occurred throughout the past 2 years. The COVID-19 pandemic brought much more clarity as to what a publication like The Hematologist can do for the medical community,” said Dr. Kumar. “Incorporating more patient-based scenarios, journal club corners, career advice, personal stories, and practical tips in routine patient care will all encourage broader acceptance and use of this important resource. Highlighting the advances in the field, putting them into the current context, and identifying future steps will not only help practicing clinicians, but also spur interest in further research.”
