As two members of the ASH Trainee Council (TC) in our second year of service, we have much to say about how our experience has influenced our careers and how it can influence the careers of other trainees. You may ask, “What is the ASH TC and what could I accomplish as part of the council?” The ASH TC was established in 2001 with a mission of increasing the involvement of hematology trainees in the administration of the Society through the solicitation of their input on issues related to training and education. For us, involvement has been full of benefits. The interactions we have had with other representative trainees from across the continent’s training programs have been a collective feast, consisting not only of the excitement of brainstorming on the issues that face us, but also of fruitful advocacy.
Access to the vast “human resources” of ASH has introduced us to new mentors, advisors, and collaborators. We are welcomed by the ASH leadership to play a direct role in shaping academic and educational initiatives, for example, by providing peer review for the ASH-SAP publication, the abstracts in a given category for the annual meeting, or the online hematology teaching cases. In promoting various trainee awards and opportunities to our own peers, we have also been inspired to strive for higher standards of excellence ourselves.
The issues that face trainees bind us together, and the inner workings of the leadership to which we have been exposed have shown those of us on the council what it takes to effect changes and advancements. This service has enhanced our experience and eligibility for the privilege of ongoing leadership opportunities and given us the opportunity to enjoy connections with influential leaders throughout ASH, especially those on the ASH Committee on Training Programs.
Connecting strongly with peers is the root of the TC mission. Career-inspiring clinical elective opportunities have been discovered through the friendly ground-level exchanges between trainees in the Fellows Lounge at the ASH annual meeting, and developing, leading, and facilitating ASH annual meeting sessions that are specifically geared toward trainees are key ways that we, as members of the TC, help promote education and advocacy for trainees. These events have included the Trainee Welcome Reception, career development lunches, and didactic sessions with trainee-focused topics such as How to Find Your Perfect Job, How to Write a Publishable Paper, and How to Find a Mentor. By collecting feedback via an e-mail survey after the annual meeting, we have been able to devise new ways to improve the numerous educational and networking opportunities for trainees offered at each annual meeting.
The TC has undertaken several other important initiatives this year. Through the Trainee section of the ASH Web site, the ASH TC has developed an article titled “Making Sense of NIH Funding Opportunities,” a primer on various NIH-funded grant opportunities; a PowerPoint presentation on “Preparation for Life After Fellowship,” which includes suggestions to guide fellows in preparation for life after training; and a “Career Development Timeline for Trainees,” a generalized framework for the career development of trainees at various stages. In an effort to concretely encourage trainees in whom an interest in research has formed, the TC has responded with the development of a Grants Clearinghouse, which lists and updates funding opportunities for trainees, with the understanding that procuring such endorsements is crucial to start-up success and career-long support in academic medicine.
The future activities of the TC will extend beyond those already in place, incorporating new initiatives such as an increased dialogue with trainees through quarterly updates and the development of the ASH Trainee Day at the annual meeting, the goal of which is to provide a condensed training experience in matters of greatest interest to trainees, such as a grants workshop.
All in all, we feel that we make big and positive differences in this forum — as much in our lives as in others. On the TC, we can’t help but be eager about the future of ASH, however hematology might manifest itself in our own careers. We urge trainees to self-nominate and apply to this vibrant and innovative arm of ASH and make a special call to trainees who hail from graduate study or research programs to join us in making the young and emerging voice of hematology heard.
