Runs in the Blood
fact that my father studied MM and that I was interested in molecular genetics – they recommended joining the laboratory of W . Michael Kuehl , MD , who was studying the molecular genetics of B-cell lymphoma .
Ultimately , I focused on the molecular genetics of MM . I met my wife in the lab , which she joined shortly after I did . Right about the time she arrived , we identified a number of chromosome translocations that characterize MM , and I ’ ve been studying those ever since .
What would you be if you weren ’ t a hematologist ? LB : I would have done something involving math , I think .
JB : I imagine I would have been working in Silicon Valley , maybe for Apple . Engineering would probably have been a good fit for me .
What was it like when your brother-inlaw was diagnosed with MM ? What are the chances of that ? LB : We were able to give him information and advice and get him access to some of the new myeloma drugs that were just being investigated . Being on those clinical trials extended his life , but had he been diagnosed earlier in the disease , the outcome would have been better .
JB : Nathan was a physicist and mathematician , so the first thing he did when he was diagnosed was calculate the odds that someone who was married to a nurse whose brother and father studied myeloma would develop myeloma . He said it would never happen ; the odds are way too small .
Is there any chance your children make hematology a three-generation family business ? JB : My daughter has expressed other interests , and one of my sons is studying journalism , so it may end with me from my side of the family .
LB : My boys are into math and physics , so it ’ s not looking good for hematology .
Daniel John , Karin , Peter ( top row ), Daniel Egil and Joyce ( middle row ), and Paul ( bottom ).
The Brodskys
The Brodsky family wins the award for the longest generational streak of hematologists , though the third generation is still in medical school . Isadore Brodsky , MD ( 1930-2007 ) was a hematologist / oncologist who performed the first bone marrow transplant in the tristate area of Pennsylvania , New Jersey , and Delaware . At the time of his retirement , Dr . Brodsky was the chief of hematology / oncology at Drexel University ’ s College of Medicine and managing partner in an oncology and hematology practice at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia .
His son , Robert Brodsky , MD , is the director of the Division of Hematology at Johns Hopkins Medicine and the T32 Training Program in Hematology . In November 2016 , he was elected to a 4-year term as ASH Secretary . Dr . Brodsky has previously held several other ASH positions , including chair of the Scientific Committee on Bone Marrow Failure .
Robert ’ s son , Max Brodsky , is a medical student at Drexel University and recipient of a 2017-2018 ASH Physician-Scientist Career Development Award . He will spend a year in the Ross Levine Lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center studying mechanisms of ruxolitinib resistance in JAK2 / ASXL1 doublemutant myeloproliferative neoplasms .
an interview with robert brodsky , md
How did the tradition of hematology in your family start ? My father was actually interested in cardiology at first , but his experiences as a “ Yellow Beret ” at the National Institutes of Health during the Vietnam War , when he studied viruses in mice and myeloproliferative disorders , spurred his interest in blood disorders and hematology .
How did your father ’ s career influence your choices ? My father was an incredible role model . He was passionate not just about hematology , but all science . I came to medicine kind of late – I was a political science major at the University
The Narlas
From left to right : Goutham , Jyothsna , Mohan , and Anu Narla .
Mohandas ( Mohan ) Narla , DSc , is a basic scientist who came to hematology quite by “ accident .” Dr . Narla studied engineering before switching to red blood cell physiology and pathology . He is now the vice president of research at the New York Blood Center and the head of the Red Cell Physiology Lab there . His daughter , Anupama ( Anu ) Narla , MD , made a more conscious choice to follow in her father ’ s footsteps . She is a pediatric hematologist / oncologist at the Lucile Salter Packard Children ’ s Hospital at Stanford University . Her brother , Goutham Narla , MD , PhD , is a geneticist , but has an adjunct appointment in oncology / hematology at University Hospitals in Cleveland and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York . In his laboratory , he focuses on the identification and characterization of the key tumor suppressor proteins of cancer development and progression . Last , but not least , their mother , Jyothsna Narla , MD , is a pathologist in San Jose , California .
an interview with mohan and anu narla
How did you become involved in hematology , Mohan ? Mohan Narla : I was looking for some projects earlier in my research career , and I ended up working on red cells – learning how flexible [ and ] adhesive
of Pennsylvania until I developed an interest in medicine . Like my father , I became fascinated with blood diseases . The ability to make a diagnosis by looking [ through ] the microscope captured my attention initially , then I set my sights on trying to understand the basic science underpinning hematology and spent a fair amount of time in the lab .
Robert Brodsky with his son , Max .
Have you worked together ? We ’ ve co-authored a few papers , and some of my fondest memories are of going to the ASH annual meetings with him ; we probably went to eight or 10 together . In 2016 , I had the chance to attend the ASH annual meeting with my son , where he presented his poster . I think we might be the only family with three generations who have presented at the ASH annual meeting .
Do you think your choices influenced your son ? My father never pressured me to follow in his footsteps ; he was kind of surprised when I decided to pursue hematology .
I think part of it has to do with whether the parent is professionally happy . My father saw some exciting times and discoveries , and so did I . It was something I wanted to be a part of . When my sons were in high school , they volunteered in the sickle cell clinic at Johns Hopkins , and I think it affected them in many ways . They saw that there are people a lot less fortunate than them , and they got a sense of how much impact one can have just by listening . They also saw how much I ’ ve enjoyed this specialty , in the same way I watched my father .
they are . At the time , there was a lot of interest in developing kidney dialysis and heart-lung machines , so there was a need to better understand blood flow . In 1973 , I moved to Paris to do 3 years of postdoctoral research at the Institute of Cellular Pathology , which dealt exclusively with hematology research , and where I quickly learned about red blood cells and hematologic disorders . The biology was fascinating and my time there set the stage for the next 40 years of my research career .
Anu , did your father push you toward becoming a hematologist ? Anu Narla : No , and my parents have
Goutham and Anu Narla .
38 ASH Clinical News July 2017 Bonus Mid-Year Edition