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ASH has always been dedicated to the pursuit of supporting hematologists to help conquer blood diseases, and I saw those efforts firsthand throughout my time as ASH President when I traveled to nine countries. I met the tireless clinicians who make the Consortium on Newborn Screening in Africa (CONSA) possible. I shook hands with trainees and researchers who represent the future of hematology. I stood in the halls of the U.S. Capitol to advocate for individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD). It has been an incredible year, and we’ve made important progress in supporting hematologists worldwide.
 
I was impressed by the scale of ASH’s work globally. ASH shared science and resources internationally through its Highlights of ASH meetings in Asia, Latin America, and the Mediterranean and Middle East. It also hosted workshops all over the world like the Clinical Research Training Institute, which aims to help researchers run clinical trials. ASH also announced a new journal, , which will publish high-quality articles that address hematology issues of global impact. 

The CONSA program reached a major milestone this year. More than 2,000 cases of SCD have been diagnosed in children participating in the program, giving them access to lifesaving care. I’ve seen firsthand the impact of this program, and I am touched by the difference it has made in the lives of these families. 
 
SCD remained top of mind, from the reintroduction of the SCD Comprehensive Care Act, which would create health homes for individuals living with the disease, to the launch of the new SCD research priorities, which highlight seven key areas where the SCD stakeholder community should focus their efforts to achieve maximum impact and patient benefit. ASH will continue to move the needle in SCD education and care in the years to come. 

ASH supported trainees, researchers, and clinicians through its awards programs, which awarded $12 million in 2024. ASH launched the Hematology Inclusion Pathway, the successor program to the Minority Recruitment Initiative, which strives to develop and foster a new generation of leaders in hematology. The third cohort of fellows matched into the Hematology-Focused Fellowship Training Program, a program built to strengthen the pipeline of classical hematologists.  

ASH is working on the development of clinical tools in hematology, including the ANC by Duffy Status Project, which will redefine reference ranges for individuals with Duffy-null associated neutrophil count. Twenty-four institutions joined the project in 2024. 

Promoting and sharing the latest hematology science has always been a priority at ASH, and that is never more evident than at the annual meeting. I have attended every ASH annual meeting since 1976, and each year, groundbreaking research is presented that changes the field. I feel very strongly that science is moving by leaps and bounds as we continue to make major progress in developing rational curative therapies for several hematologic disorders. Unfortunately, these breakthrough therapies are accessible and affordable to only a small segment of patients. It is gratifying to see that ASH and its members are taking this issue seriously to ensure all patients, irrespective of where they live and their economic status, will have access to these therapies. 
 
While I realize this is a daunting task, we have a moral obligation to achieve this goal. In this context, such goals can only be achieved by bringing talented and committed junior investigators into hematology, mentoring them, and funding their goals and dreams.  

If an immigrant from India with a doctorate in chemical engineering can have a sustained career in hematology, so can you. Hematology has nourished me intellectually for 50 years and I am still excited to go to work each day. Together, we can DO IT. Learn how you can participate in ASH too!  

It has been the honor of my life to serve as ASH President. The past year has been one of great progress, and I am glad I was able to play a role in continuing the Society’s work in conquering blood disorders. 
 
Thank you, 
Mohandas Narla, DSc