INTERVIEW
What Can the ASH Trainee Council Do for You ? Interview with Sherif M . Badawy , MD , MS , MBBCh
The American Society of Hematology created the ASH Trainee Council to advocate for the issues and concerns of hematology / oncology trainees , including mentorship , publishing , and funding . ASH Clinical News spoke with Sherif M . Badawy , MD , MS , MBBCh , the immediate past chair of the Council , for a look at how the Trainee Council is helping trainees meet today ' s challenges . Dr . Badawy is instructor in the Department of Pediatrics and attending physician in the Division of Hematology , Oncology , and Stem Cell Transplant at the Ann & Robert H . Lurie Children ' s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago , IL .
Jennifer Saultz , DO , began her tenure as the ASH Trainee Council in July . Look for more with Dr . Saultz at the end of the article .
What are the biggest obstacles facing today ’ s trainees ? Funding , career-planning , finding a mentor … these are all critical – and challenging – components of starting a successful career in hematology / oncology . For trainees , I think the biggest obstacle is developing a personal vision . This can help trainees overcome other obstacles along the career path .
Outlining a complete vision for your career might seem like an overwhelming concept , but I believe we can start to think about where we are and where we want to be earlier in our careers . Some trainees get busy with their clinical work and don ’ t set aside the time to sketch out longterm goals until their research time has begun in their second year . Waiting until the second year of training can be late to start that process .
What advice do you give trainees as they sketch out long-term goals ? I would advise trainees to explore other areas of multidisciplinary research early in their careers . Focusing too narrowly on one area can close off other opportunities to learn , while collaborations can broaden your understanding of different research methods and offer new perspectives on your own research . This process may take more time , but that ’ s why it ’ s important to start early .
Again , think about what your goals are – both short- and long-term . Knowing what you want will also help you avoid getting “ trapped ” where you don ’ t want to be , in a sense . For instance , many trainees get engaged in a fellowship project that doesn ’ t fully interest them , but , because it was the best option at the time , they stick with it longer than they want to .
The fellowship project should be viewed as a vehicle for what comes next . Think about how what you learn now will help tell your story later . The project helps you collect data , get funded , [ and ] get a career development award later in your career , so use it wisely .
What should trainees look for in a mentor ? All training institutions have a formal mentorship program to provide trainees with guidance related to clinical work or research . I think trainees should have the courage to reach out to people for help or with questions . They may worry that the person is too busy and that asking for help would be a waste , but taking that extra step works .
A successful mentoring relationship isn ’ t a burden on the mentor ; it ’ s a win-win situation . As a mentee , though , you should know what you want to get out of the relationship . Be prepared and organized and have an agenda before you interact with your mentor .
The mentoring relationship is different for everyone , but there are a few key elements that trainees should be looking for in a mentor . Importantly , it should be someone with a good track record of mentoring others , and who is known to be a supportive advocate of his or her mentees . Next , look for someone known to be productive , well-published , and well-funded with expertise in your area of interest . It ’ s also beneficial to have more than one mentor – within your institution or outside – who has expertise in the area that interests you .
Mentoring is a dynamic process . Mentees should be proactive and try to have regular meetings with their mentors . The misconception is that the mentor will just offer words of wisdom that mentees soak up . Also , being a finisher is key : If you said you would do something , do it .
What is not emphasized enough during training ? After patient care , publishing and securing funding should be our highest priorities .
Establishing that track record of publication is what will get you hired , promoted , and funded . You can start anywhere , with case reports or letters to the editor … anything to show that you are committed to your area of interest . Publishing needs to be an objective from the start of your career because , if you don ’ t consciously make time for it , it won ’ t happen . And the fact is , as you write more , your writing will improve and your research strategy will be more refined .
Trainees might not be thinking about funding so early in their career , but institutions have a number of opportunities for early-career hematologists / oncologists , such as pilot grants and seed grants available to young researchers . These funds can be enough to get a small project going , which can lead to larger projects and funding opportunities . Trainees should make an effort to find these opportunities at their institutions , as well as potential grant opportunities outside of their institutions . To help with this , the ASH Trainee Council maintains the Grants Clearinghouse ( hematology . org / Fellows / Grants ), a searchable , online database of more than 100 hematology grant opportunities , with information about the funding mechanism , the award amount , and the eligibility criteria .
What other resources does the Trainee Council provide to trainees ? The goal of the Trainee Council is to provide a forum to discuss issues related to training and career development and the representation of trainees ’ needs to ASH leadership and other ASH committees . One of our main activities is planning trainee events at the ASH annual meeting , including Trainee Day . This day consists of didactic sessions focused on different topics related to trainee career development . We also try to include information from different scientific perspectives – from clinical research to translational research to basic science . Trainees ’ feedback is
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