American Society of Hematology
The American Society of Hematology, or ASH for short, is a group that defines the elements of training and certification required for the member hematologist. In addition, they lay down the grounds for professional expertise to be expected from American hematologists.
It was April of 1958 that the first official meeting of what was soon to be known as the American Society of Hematology was held. More than 300 hematologists gathered in Atlantic City, NJ, that day as they discussed clinical and research matters related to blood and blood diseases.
After that initial meeting, the American Society of Hematology was soon formed with its own governing Executive Committee composed of the president, president-elect, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and eight councilors. The members of the American Society of Hematology hold an election regularly in order to choose their next set of officers, with the vice president often serving as president-elect and president in succeeding years.
The American Society of Hematology plays an active and important role in the development of hematology as a discipline. Previously nothing more than a subspecialty field of study under Internal Medicine, hematology is now one of the most important fields of medicine and hematologists today – specialists in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and/or investigation of blood disorders – are often considered as a “doctor’s doctor.”
The hematologist’s knowledge of the hematopoietic, hemostatic, and lymphatic systems, and disorders of the interaction between blood and blood vessel wall is often very extensive that physicians may consult them for some help in diagnosing a particularly puzzling condition.
With its four decade history of uplifting the American hematologist, the American Society of Hematology has this mission-statement to guide them in their activities:
“…To further the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders affecting the blood, bone marrow, and the immunologic, hemostatic and vascular systems, by promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology.”
In order to realize their objectives, the American Society of Hematology has delegated the tasks to its eleven standing committees, whose sole purpose is to recommend policies, programs, and actions to the Executive Committee.
In addition to the standing committees, the American Society of Hematology also has fourteen scientific committees who are in charge of developing scientific sessions presented at the annual meeting. The task of the committee members is to advise the American Society of Hematology on science policy priorities, and identify new and underserved areas of research in hematology.
Other activities that the American Society of Hematology actively and frequently engages in include organizing premier annual education and scientific events in the field of hematology as well as publishing and keeping Blood, which in addition to being the Journal of the American Society of Hematology is also the most cited peer reviewed publication in the field.
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