2025 ASH News Daily Editorial Board

Deputy Editor

Charlotte Brierley, MD, PhD, (@CKBrierley), is an academic clinical lecturer in hematology at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford, with a specialist interest in myeloid malignancies and bone marrow transplantation. “Entirely powered by caffeine,” she is deeply committed to improving outcomes for patients and energized by the potential of applying cutting-edge techniques to tackle hematology’s toughest questions. When not on call, pipetting, or careering through Oxford on her cargo bike, she enjoys building extravagant Lego constructions with her daughters and reading voraciously.

• If I hadn’t become a hematologist, I would be: living la dolce vita in an Italian hilltop village.  

Authors

Christina Abrams, MD, pediatric sickle cell director at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, describes her job as “everything that I wanted out of a career in medicine — the perfect balance of inpatient and outpatient care, long-term relationships, and complex medical problems.” Outside of work, Dr. Abrams enjoys baking (sourdough, cookies); gardening; and spending time with her “wonderfully supportive” husband of 13 years and their “feisty” six-year-old daughter. Her advice to ASH annual meeting attendees: “Bring sneakers (your feet will thank you), make sure to prioritize what you find most interesting, enjoy meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends, and have fun!”

• If I hadn’t become a hematologist, I would be a baker. I’ve baked each of my daughter’s birthday cakes to date and plan to do so until she turns 18.  

Christopher Graham, MD, (@ChrisGrahamMD), is an assistant professor in the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis. His primary areas of focus are stem cell transplantation, cellular therapy, and malignant hematology. In his work as a physician, he finds “the interwoven complexities and interactions between the hematopoietic elements and the immune system” to be particularly intriguing. In his spare time, Dr. Graham enjoys reading; writing (science fiction, fantasy, and non-fiction); and spending time exploring Minneapolis with his wife and their two canine children, both of whom are “still full of puppy energy.”

• One thing people might be surprised to learn about me: I've been writing science fiction since I was in middle school, with my first short stories written before I started high school, and I have several unpublished novels currently going through revisions in preparation for publication.  

Ajay Major, MD, MBA, (@majorajay), is an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he specializes in lymphomas, particularly indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas and Waldenström macroglobulinemia. He most values the diversity of diseases and therapies that he has the opportunity to care for, “particularly when balancing quality of life and treatment efficacy” for his patients. He has also published a children’s book, as well as several other books for the medical education community through his nonprofit publishing company. Dr. Major lives in Denver with his geriatrician husband and their one-year-old daughter.  

• When I’m not working, I enjoy: playing clarinet in a community orchestra (shout out to the Mile High Freedom Band!) and dabbling in pottery.  

Sarah Sewaralthahab, MD, MPH, (@SarahSewar), is a consultant hematologist, assistant professor of medicine, and head of the Adult Hematology Unit at King Saud University Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a focus on thrombosis, hemostasis platelet disorders, thrombotic microangiopathies, complement disorders, obstetric hematology, hemoglobinopathies, and thalassemia. She loves classical hematology’s “unique blend of intellectual challenge and collaborative care,” as well as having the privilege of “walking alongside patients and their families over time, sharing in their journeys, and working together to bring about meaningful, lasting impact.” Born in Sudan, Dr. Sewaralthahab grew up in Saudi Arabia in a multinational compound. When not at work, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and four children, watching reruns of her favorite TV shows, and unwinding with friends.  

• If I hadn’t become a hematologist, I would be a: personal chef.  

Jennell White, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. White focuses on pathologic adhesion in sickle cell disease. Specifically, her lab studies the regulation of red cell-endothelial interactions using mass spectrometry and flow-based adhesion assays in an effort to better understand the regulation of very late antigen-4 in red cells. Dr. White also cofounded a spinout company with her postdoc mentor and research team based on proprietary flow adhesion assays that they codeveloped. A mother of two daughters, she enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, traveling, community engagement, and nurturing her faith. She recommends that annual meeting attendees “review the conference agenda ahead of the meeting and schedule meetings between sessions.”  

• If I hadn’t become a hematologist, I would be a: zoologist.   

Saurabh Zanwar, MBBS, MD, (@ZanwarSaurabh), is an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology and a senior associate consultant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he specializes in multiple myeloma, Waldenström macroglobulinemia, and systemic light-chain amyloidosis. As a physician, he particularly values “the long-lasting relationships built with patients over the years of being part of their care team.” Born and raised in Nagpur, India (where summers hit 120 degrees Fahrenheit), Dr. Zanwar currently lives in Rochester (where winters drop to 30 degrees below zero) with his wife, Sanskriti, and their two “absolutely wonderful” daughters — Dua (3 years old) and Dia (8 months). In his free time, he enjoys hiking, traveling, and watching soccer.  

• If I hadn’t become a hematologist, I would be: a professional scout for Manchester United or a tour guide for the pristine (and highly underrated) North Shore of Minnesota.   

Junior Authors

Supriya Gupta, MD, (@SupriyaGuptaMD), is an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation at the University of Minnesota Medical School with a focus on lymphoma, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, and stem cell transplantation. She describes hematology as “the perfect blend of meaningful patient care, intellectual challenge, and rapid scientific advancements directly translating to lifesaving impact.” She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two dogs — Benji, a cocker spaniel, and Lucy, a corgi. When not working, she enjoys trying new restaurants, attending live music, visiting art museums, and traveling. 

• One thing people might be surprised to learn about me: I played a small part in a movie many years ago.  

Ayo Falade, MD, MBA, (@EmperorBlackMD), is a clinical fellow in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he focuses on lymphoma, cellular therapy, and the integration of artificial intelligence into cancer care. What he loves most about hematology is “the continuity and depth of care we provide — we guide our patients through every phase of their journey, from diagnosis to treatment, and ultimately through survivorship.” He also values “the intellectually rich nature” of a profession in which “every case presents a unique puzzle, requiring thoughtful analysis and constant learning.” If he hadn’t become a hematologist, he might have studied aeronautic engineering — or pursued a career as a motivational speaker. In his down time, Dr. Falade enjoys exploring nature, trying different cuisines, and playing board games.  

• One thing people might be surprised to learn about me: I speak Russian.