UP FRONT
Pulling Back the Curtain
Kenneth C. Anderson, MD
In this edition, Kenneth C. Anderson, MD, shares why hematology is a labor of love
for him, and why he’s a lifelong New England Patriots fan. Dr. Anderson is program
director of the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center and LeBow Institute
for Myeloma Therapeutics at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Kraft Family
Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr.
Anderson is also the 2017 president of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).
What was your first job?
My first job was as a golf caddy,
where I affirmed my early interest
in sports – and golf in particular.
This is also where I learned the
importance of discipline and com-
mitment. By having this job at a
young age, I also matured in inter-
personal interactions and learned
not to be discouraged by – but
rather to learn from – mistakes
and adversity.
Why did you decide to
study medicine and to
specialize in hematology
and myeloma?
I grew up in a small town and
was the first in my family to
attend college. My mother was
a nurse, and she inspired my
interest in medicine. Initially, I
was going to pursue a career as
a general practitioner in a small
town.
Studying biology and volunteer-
ing as an orderly while in college
confirmed my interest in medicine.
I was introduced to academic medi-
cine by Richard L. Humphrey, MD,
from Johns Hopkins Medical
School, a myeloma specialist
who taught me two important
lessons that have served as my
motivation ever since: Make
science count for patients by
improving diagnosis, prognosis,
and treatment; and treat patients
like family. He remains my cher-
ished role model, mentor, and
friend.
Did you ever see yourself in
a different career?
I really did not consider any other
career path – I enjoyed science
and am motivated and gratified
by helping others. Medicine was a
perfect fit for me.
I have been asked more than
once why I work so much, but I
feel lucky to do science and help
develop treatments that impact
patients and their families. For me
it is a labor of love.
ASHClinicalNews.org
Tell us about your mentors.
Dr. Humphrey was a huge
inspiration for me to pursue
bench-to-bedside research in
myeloma. The godfather of our
field, Robert A. Kyle, MD, has
also been a dear friend and role
model, exemplifying how to
carry out clinical research and
train the next generation of
researchers and caregivers.
What advice would
pass on to early-career
hematologists?
My pursuit of bench-to-bedside
research has taught me several
important life lessons that I would
share: First, do whatever you can
to make a difference. Second,
help to train the next generation
of caregivers and researchers.
And third, remember that health,
friends, and family are all that
truly matters.
I would advise early-career
hematologists to focus on what
makes them happy and gives them
satisfaction. While there are many
demands – whether choosing ba-
sic research, clinical research, or
private practice – you will be truly
fulfilled if you focus in areas that
you genuinely enjoy.
Today, our field is at a time
of unprecedented opportunity.
People early in their hematology
careers should know that they will
witness rapidly evolving treatment
paradigms for – and even the cure
of – many hematologic malignan-
cies and disorders.
How has hematology and
medicine changed since you
started your career?
When I started my career, myeloma
was untreatable; now, there are
many patients with myeloma who
are living a normal life with a
chronic illness, and curative thera-
py is a realistic possibility.
Clinical research has progressed
from monoclonal antibodies to
cytokines to cell signaling and
Dr. Anderson in his office.
now genomics and epigenomics.
Taking advantage of these and
other scientific advances to ad-
dress fundamental questions in
myeloma has translated to mul-
tiple effective therapies.
In the not-too-distant past,
patients with myeloma were died
quickly, often with pain and suf-
fering; at present, many patients
can enjoy celebrating life’s mile-
stones with their families.
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