December 2024
Table of Contents
President's Message
Partnerships to Improve Care
Jeff Hord, MD
Those of us farther along in our careers can recall the late 1990s, when industry provided “enticements” to physicians, a practice that created conditions leading to bias in professional judgment and prescribing practices. Media outlets brought numerous examples of such bias to the attention of the public and the medical community. Medical and pharmaceutical associations developed new ethical codes in hopes of limiting such behavior. The government started requiring that manufacturers annually report any money paid to physicians and the monetary value of any other gifts. I believe it was then that interactions between providers and representatives of the pharmaceutical and medical device industries became uncomfortable, and providers understandably became cautious of such encounters.
ASPHO leadership is intentional about the Society’s interaction with industry, taking into consideration guidelines from the Sunshine Act and Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) requirements while recognizing the benefits of collaboration. ASPHO has an Industry Relations Council (IRC), which exists to provide a platform for meaningful relationships and to foster dialogue around opportunities and challenges with treatment, mutual advocacy goals, and optimal education vehicles for physicians and allied healthcare professionals. Working with industry partners helps ASPHO achieve one of our goals, which is to improve access to drugs, devices, and biologics for children and adolescents. Industry also is important to the operational and financial success of ASPHO because it provides significant support for our annual conference.
During the past year, the Conference Task Force reviewed all aspects of our annual conference, and, as part of the process, members discussed ways to optimize interactions between attendees and representatives of industry and institutions. The task force recommended that (1) ASPHO better understand what industry representatives hope to accomplish at the conference, and (2) ASPHO educate conference attendees on ways they can engage more effectively with exhibitors and sponsors for mutual benefit.
I asked representatives of some of our IRC members how they would define an optimal interaction between a conference attendee and an industry representative. They viewed interactions with attendees in the exhibit hall as “meet and greet” encounters that could open the door to future conversations and reminded me that not all conversations are a “sales pitch.” They hoped the representative could present new medical information that would enhance patient safety and that they might identify gaps in provider and trainee education they would be able to fill.
The important role the pharmaceutical and medical device industries play in optimizing care of our patients is well recognized, and we should talk with our partners. I hope that you, like ASPHO, will be intentional and interact with industry partners at the 2025 conference. Think about what you hope to take away from the conversations and what insight you might have to offer to industry representatives. View this as a “meet and greet” to begin a dialogue in the interest of our patients.
Upcoming Programming
Review Course Syllabus Order Deadline
The 2025 ASPHO Review Course will take place January 23-26, 2025, in a virtual format, enabling attendees to learn from sessions presented live and on demand as well as numerous opportunities for question-and-answer sessions. The goal is to provide a rich meeting and learning experience offering unique and expanded opportunities for attendees to learn, network, connect, review, and study for the upcoming American Board of Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology sub-board exam scheduled for March 31, 2025. The course also supports practitioners wishing to reinforce their understanding of established standards of care for the subspecialty.
Registrants can enhance their learning with these exclusive opportunities:
- A discounted full-color, printed syllabus for $225 (when preordered by December 16, 2024; thereafter, full price) delivered directly to your home or office. Preordering by December 16 is required to guarantee delivery prior to the course. The syllabus price increases to $325 on December 17.
- The full set of 400 self-assessment questions, available for purchase in an electronic, test-simulation format. Self-assessment questions can be accessed after the course and are available for 2 years. The exclusive rate of $225 for course attendees will be available until April 7, 2025.
This Month’s ASPHO Webinar: Hot Topics in Genetic Testing and Surveillance for Children with Cancer Predisposition
Monday, December 16, 3-4 pm CT
Increased incorporation of germline genetic testing in pediatric oncology is uncovering cancer predispositions in more and more children. It is thus imperative that pediatric hematology/oncology providers know which children warrant testing and what to do with the resulting information. Towards this end, it is debated whether children should be tested for germline variants in adult-onset cancer predisposition genes. And for those who do test positive, does the information gained provide insights into tumor formation or provide new strategies for therapeutic intervention? As it relates to cancer surveillance, it is often challenging to know when and how to monitor children with underlying predispositions and whether such monitoring is truly effective.
Further, are there more sensitive and accurate ways to screen for cancers in individuals at risk? In light of the increased availability and use of germline genetic testing, pediatric hematology/oncology providers must know when and how to appropriately counsel, test, and manage patients with underlying predispositions. This webinar will discuss new advances in the field to update current knowledge and spur conversations about these exciting topics.
Speakers
- Kim Nichols, MD (moderator)
- Christian Kratz, MD
- Melissa Perrino, MD
- David Malkin, MD
ASPHO Webinars are non-CME live programs and are also available on-demand; free to members and available for purchase to nonmembers. Each webinar is an hour-long, with 45 minutes of lecture and 15 minutes of live Q&A.
Upcoming Town Halls
Fellowship Program Directors Town Hall
All pediatric subspecialties who utilize the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) for fellowship applications have been asked to decide if they want to include program signaling for their respective subspecialty, starting with the 2025 recruitment cycle. As the professional home for pediatric hematology/oncology, ASPHO has been tasked to lead the decision-making for the subspecialty. To promote initial understanding and discussion related to the signaling tool, the ASPHO Training Committee will be hosting a town hall for all pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship program directors on Tuesday, January 14, 4-5 pm CT. Staff from ERAS will join us to offer an overview and explanation of program signaling within the fellowship application process and provide time for Q&A regarding this tool. Time will also be set aside for further focused discussion of program signaling among program director colleagues.
Register Here
Division Directors Town Hall
Save the date! An interactive town hall for division leaders will be held on Thursday, February 13, 4-5 pm CT. More info to come via the Division Director member community and focused emails to division leaders!
Special Features
The Special Feature section of ASPHO eNews highlights issues and member perspectives on broad issues in pediatric hematology/oncology that are of interest to ASPHO’s diverse membership.
Culturally Adapted Mobile Treatment of Chronic Pain in Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Tara Brinkman, PhD
Dr. Brinkman was the recipient of the 2023 Northwestern Mutual Award for Excellence in Childhood Cancer Survivorship. The following is an update on her research.
Survivors of childhood cancer are at risk of developing chronic pain because of their disease and treatment. Unfortunately, racial/ethnic disparities exist in the prevalence and treatment of chronic pain, with Hispanic and Black individuals experiencing a higher prevalence of pain but with less access to evidence-based treatments. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard nonpharmacologic treatment for chronic pain; however, barriers such as access to providers, cost, and stigma limit its uptake, especially among underserved populations. Internet-delivered or mobile CBT has the potential to overcome these barriers, but its impact remains limited to the extent that it is sensitive and responsive to cultural differences. To address this limitation, we conducted a series of focus groups with Black and Hispanic adolescent and young adult survivors and parents of childhood cancer survivors to culturally adapt an existing evidence-based mobile CBT app for adolescents with chronic pain (NIH/NCI R61CA208978, PI: Brinkman). The Northwestern Mutual Award for Excellence in Childhood Cancer Survivorship enabled us to translate the adapted CBT app into Spanish to further increase accessibility for Hispanic survivors. We conducted a 6-week multisite pilot study of adapted mobile CBT in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of 30 adolescent survivors of childhood cancer with chronic pain. The results from our pilot study suggest that the intervention was feasible to implement, perceived as acceptable by survivors, and had a positive effect on improving pain symptoms. We intend to apply for additional extramural funding to conduct a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of culturally adapted mobile CBT for chronic pain in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. We are optimistic that this line of research will continue to increase the availability and accessibility of evidence-based treatments for late effects of childhood cancer to the growing geographically and culturally diverse population of long-term survivors.
Learn more about the Childhood Cancer Survivorship Award for Excellence funded by Northwestern Mutual.
Society News
Career Path Spotlight
ASPHO is pleased to present this month’s edition of the Career Path Spotlight series. This resource showcases the career paths of a variety of ASPHO physician members and informs medical students, residents, pediatric hematology/oncology fellows, and early career junior faculty members of the career opportunities available to them.
This month’s spotlight features Dr. Melanie Stall from the Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, CO.
Compensation Survey and Benefits Report
An executive summary and detailed report of the 2024 ASPHO Compensation and Benefits Survey is in development. Seventy institutions participated in the survey, providing accounting for compensation data on [[nearly/over XXX]] pediatric hematology/oncology subspecialty providers, including data for advanced practice providers. The comprehensive report will outline key trends and benchmarking data for the pediatric hematology/oncology subspecialty, including compensation comparative benchmarking data related to career stages, position responsibilities, provider type, practice setting, geographic location, and more. New for this year, an online tool will also enable users to filter the data by various combinations of search criteria to obtain a level of compensation detail beyond what is available in the overall report.
Workforce Initiatives at CoPS
YoungNa Lee-Kim, MD MEd, ASPHO Practice Committee, liaison to the Council of Pediatric Subspecialties (CoPS)
The Council of Pediatric Subspecialties (CoPS) held its fall meeting in Chicago October 21 and 22. The meeting was attended by representatives from allied member organizations and 17 pediatric subspecialties, with ASPHO representing pediatric hematology/oncology. As workforce is an important topic of conversation within our Society and subspecialty, I wanted to highlight some of the efforts surrounding workforce issues shared by many of the groups represented, including the CoPS action teams. Workforce challenges are a priority among a number of organizations and subspecialties, and ASPHO continues to be at the center of those discussions.
The American Academy of Pediatrics presented their current workforce initiatives, including paid parental leave and gender equity for females in leadership. Their recent policy wins include the requirement for all states to provide 12 months of continuous Medicaid coverage for children and revisions to the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program.
The Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs (AMSPDC) Workforce Initiative (WFI), launched in 2020, has authored two workforce publications (Pediatrics and Journal of Pediatrics), and AMSPDC hosted a Day on the Hill with congressional delegates. Its Policy Council collaborated with national groups to advocate for Medicaid reform and reimbursement parity between adult and pediatric providers. The 2023 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) study had redirected the WFI with recommendations regarding the following:
- redesigning medical education, including preclinical exposure to pediatrics, underrepresented in medicine (URiM) mentoring, summer research experiences, early exposure to MD/PhD programs, individualized curricula for subspecialty exposure during residency, support for DO and international medical graduates, flexible training pathways, and funding for physician scientists
- economic strategy such as increased salaries, payment reform, changes to the Relative Value Unit (RVU) system, and need for pediatric-specific Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes
- practice collaboration for timely and equitable access to pediatric subspecialty care
- national marketing campaign in 2025 to make the public aware of the critical need for pediatric care.
The American Medical Association (AMA) presented an update on the Relative Value Scale (RVS) and RVS Update Committee (RUC). This was based on updated Medicare data since Medicaid claims data was last updated 10 years ago. The AMA addressed the 2.80% decrease in Medicare conversion factor for 2025, calling for Medicare physician payment reform to be a legislative and advocacy priority, especially with the cost of practicing medicine increasing. The AMA also proposed a mechanism to automatically increase physician payments for inflation similar to the automatic increases in facility fees. Reasons contributing to pediatric subspecialists earning less, despite their additional training, include payer mix composition, being salaried by hospitals with higher facility fees for more complex patients, spending more time communicating and documenting in electronic medical records, and not being able to schedule services back-to-back as procedure-based specialties can. Representatives felt that pediatric subspecialties should work toward greater representation on the RUC, CPT committee, and house of delegates and should submit CPT revisions whenever needed.
The CoPS action teams are also working on workforce-related projects. The Future Subspecialists action team compiled a list of travel/research grants for students/residents and is planning to write a white paper on the role of subspecialists in promoting interest in their fields. The Well-Being action team is looking at educational FTE (eFTE) and creating a job description for core faculty. The Clinical Practice action team is looking at variability in how clinical FTE and work hours are defined to work toward transparency in business practices.
Guided by workforce as a strategic goal, ASPHO continues to be dedicated to understanding the pediatric hematology/oncology workforce and the challenges and changing workforce dynamics that the subspecialty faces. Our participation and involvement in CoPS, in collaboration with other pediatric subspecialties and important allied member organizations, enables us to have a better understanding of those challenges and provide a larger voice for pediatrics.
Visit Us at ASH
ASPHO will be exhibiting at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in San Diego December 7-9. Visit us at booth #24 in the nonprofit exhibitor area to learn more about our career-development programming and our upcoming compensation survey and benefits report and get excited about #ASPHO2025!
Awards Announcements
ASPHO is pleased to announce the 2025 awardees who will be recognized during the 2025 ASPHO Conference, May 7-10, in Louisville, KY. Join us in celebrating their notable achievements.
Distinguished Career Award
William L. Carroll, MD, NYU Langone Health
From their nominators: An internationally renowned physician scientist who has made seminal discoveries in the molecular origins, clinical biology, and treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). His work has illuminated the molecular mechanisms driving relapse, linking specific genetic and epigenetic alterations to drug resistance. Notably, his discovery of NT5C2 mutations as a resistance mechanism to 6-mercaptopurine, a critical drug in ALL maintenance therapy, has had a direct impact on clinical treatment strategies. He is recognized for his collaborative approach, creativity, discipline, and generosity as a leader and his deep personal commitment to the care of his patients and families that trainees and colleagues at all levels seek to emulate.
Frank A. Oski Memorial Lectureship
Ayesha Zia, MD, UT Southwestern Medical Center
From their nominators: Unsurprisingly—given her extraordinary success in leadership, clinical program growth, and mentorship—she is a highly accomplished physician scientist. Such is her capacity to learn, ambition to improve the lives of children, and both talent and skill to lead and contribute to discovery, Dr. Zia opened the multicenter FUVID study: Functional Characterization of Children with Chronic Venous Thromboembolic Disease—an enormous undertaking. Dr. Zia is a pediatric champion in thrombosis with a strong portfolio of mentorship and teaching, bringing forward the next generation into this research area.
George R. Buchanan Lectureship
James H. Feusner, MD, USCF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland
From their nominator: His work in hepatoblastoma has significantly advanced and will continue to advance our ability to provide better outcomes and improved quality of life for children with this diagnosis. In addition, he has made seminal contributions to the understanding and treatment of pediatric renal and liver cancers. However, it is in mentorship where Jim has truly left a legacy, consistently taking the time to nurture the professional development of fellows and early career faculty. Jim provided not only unparalleled clinical and research guidance but also invaluable personal support.
Both Ayesha Zia, MD, and James Feusner, MD, will provide lectures associated with their awards during the 2025 ASPHO Conference, while William Carroll’s award will be presented and a reception will be held in his honor.
Northwestern Mutual Award for Excellence in Childhood Cancer Survivorship
Lucie M. Turcotte, MD MPH MS, University of Minnesota
From their letters of support: Dr. Turcotte is being funded to enhance mentee exposure to and experience within the field of cancer survivorship. She has demonstrated interest and engagement in mentoring early careerists in both their clinical practice and research endeavors. Her ongoing research includes investigating the impact of donor socioeconomic status and immune function after marrow transplantation and evaluating outcomes among female childhood cancer survivors with subsequent breast cancer, exemplifying her tenacity. Nominators are uniformly impressed by the outstanding quality, high scientific and clinical impact, multidisciplinary nature, and highly collaborative approach that characterizes her work.
For more information on how ASPHO honors excellence in the subspecialty, please visit the ASPHO Award webpage.
Match Day
The 2024 Medicine and Pediatric Specialties Match Day through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) took place yesterday, December 4. Congratulations to all pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship programs on another successful recruitment season. To the newly matched pediatric hematology/oncology fellows that will begin their training in July 2025, an early welcome to the subspecialty! For pediatric hematology/oncology, this year’s match data showed the following:
- XX PHO programs participated, with XX (XX%) filling all available positions
- XX physicians applied for PHO positions, with XX (XX%) of them matching within the subspecialty.
- XX PHO positions were offered with XX (XX%) of them being filled.
We’d like to remind to program directors and current fellow members of the valuable resources for fellows available through ASPHO. The Early Career Mentoring Program offers guidance and networking opportunities for those early in their professional journey, while participating in online member communities and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) can assist in building your professional network and knowledge. Speaking of knowledge, ASPHO also offers a number of educational opportunities for all career stages. For those fellows looking to complete advanced subspecialty training, our Post-PHO Fellowship Program Directory provides a valuable overview of programs available in multiple focused subspecialty areas. Those are just a few of the opportunities available for fellows to develop a professional network and their careers!
Membership Bulletin
Call for Committee Volunteers
You can help shape the future of pediatric hematology/oncology by becoming a volunteer!
Our volunteers are essential to the mission of supporting and empowering the pediatric hematology and oncology medical and scientific community.
The committee application process is open year-round, with application review occurring in the winter months and formal appointments completed in early spring.
Among our fourteen committees, there will be approximately 20 open committee positions for the 2025–2026 term. Appointees will officially begin their committee terms immediately following the 2025 ASPHO Conference. When determining committee placement, we focus on maintaining diverse geographic, demographic, and specialty representation on our committees to reflect the diversity of our membership. For this upcoming term, in further efforts to broaden and diversify committee membership, ASPHO asks that members with a primary responsibility of basic science research and/or translational research consider applying for committee placement.
To learn about the different ASPHO committees and complete an application for consideration, please access our volunteer opportunities page.
Board Nominations
Are you an engaged member and volunteer of ASPHO ready to assume a leadership role in your professional organization? ASPHO’s Leadership Development Committee is seeking candidates to carry out the Society’s mission and vision, and the deadline for applications is Monday, December 16. In its continuing commitment to diversity and selecting leaders with the appropriate skills and competencies to ensure an effective and high-performing board, candidate criteria include identified characteristics and competencies.
The following are open positions for the 2025-2026 slate:
- Vice president (position will succeed to president and past president)
- Trustee-at-large member
Candidates who have demonstrated achievement in desired competencies and are regular or international members in good standing can learn more about the related competencies, characteristics, and responsibilities by visiting the Leadership Development & Election webpage.
Membership for Fellows
APSHO encourages membership among trainees throughout the course of their fellowship, providing career development, advanced knowledge, and professional network resources for pediatric hematology/oncology subspecialists. Trainees in fellowship programs receive full membership benefits with two different membership options. Program Directors have the option to enroll multiple trainees from the same institution to support their professional development. Help new Trainees at your institution transition into the field with an ASPHO membership that connects them with the home community for PHO and keeps them current and informed.
SIG Spotlight
Members are the engine of ASPHO’s 16 Special Interest Groups (SIGs), in which common interests and challenges drive discussion to spur solutions, learning, and collaboration. In this issue of eNews, read about activities and issues being addressed by the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) and Palliative Care SIGs.
Adolescent and Young Adult SIG
The ASPHO AYA SIG was founded in 2018 with a mission to improve the care of adolescents and young adults with cancer and blood disorders via increasing education, collaboration, and advocacy. Over the past year, AYA SIG members were able to attend multiple AYA-focused sessions at the 2024 ASPHO Conference in addition to gathering at the AYA SIG meeting to plan the next steps for our SIG.
We have pursued and continue to pursue multiple avenues of growth and collaboration. This year we are looking forward to developing a shared AYA program file in the form of PowerPoint slides that can be accessed by all AYA SIG members. This document would share AYA programs/opportunities across institutions to stimulate collaboration and provide resources to those trying to improve their AYA programs. Each slide in the resource guide will focus on an individual institution with information regarding structure of AYA program(s), including approximate number of patients; AYA resources available; program strengths; and contact information for leaders within the program, if provided. We are also developing focus groups within AYA hematology (a term usually overlooked when the term “AYA” is used) and AYA oncology to lead different efforts in the respective fields.
The AYA SIG will continue to focus on improving education and advocacy for AYAs with cancer and blood disorders in the coming year. Thank you to our current members. We look forward to having more join us in the years to come!
Palliative Care SIG
Most pediatric hematology/oncology clinicians have experienced firsthand the suffering that these diseases can cause for patients, families, and caregivers. Palliative care is a subspecialty of medicine aimed at reducing suffering stemming from physical, emotional, social, psychological, or spiritual domains. Pediatric hematology/oncology (PHO) and palliative care (PC) physicians have a natural partnership in caring for children with refractory symptoms, need for home-based services, and approaching end of life. With this constructive collaboration in mind, the PC SIG is open to all PHO providers who want to learn more about PC for their patients and families.
The mission of the PC SIG is to accelerate the availability of high-quality PC services to PHO patients across the nation. Specific objectives to this mission include collaborating for program building; sharing resources regarding clinical pathways, policies, and procedures; educating faculty, fellows, residents, and medical students; and establishing research priorities and networks.
The PC SIG sent members a survey to determine educational priorities. SIG members are interested in learning about pediatric hospice and concurrent care, practical resources for end-of-life care, and how to be successful in the pediatric palliative oncology space. Our SIG leaders are working to address these needs and will post the timing of workshops in our SIG group.
Any ASPHO member is eligible to join our SIG, and we welcome all clinicians and scientists who have an interest in defining and providing high-quality symptom management, palliation, and/or end-of-life care for their patients.
Case Quiz
A 7-Week-Old with Poor Feeding and Decreased Energy
A 7-week-old boy is admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit because of decreased oral intake, poor latch, and decreased energy. He had not taken anything orally for 12 hours. He presented to an outside emergency department hypothermic, hypotensive, lethargic, and pale. He had previously been feeding normally with no pertinent birth/medical history.
Vitals:
- Temp 35.3 °C
- HR 140–150s
- BP 70/20–30 mmHg
- RR 40s
Labs:
- CBC: Hgb 1.8 g/dL, WBC 4.8 x 103/mcL, platelets 65 x 103/mcL, MCV 114 fL, RDW 14.5%, ANC 400
- BMP: Na 141, K 4.5, Cl 109, bicarb <10, BUN 28, Cr 0.53, glucose 65
- LFTs: AST 962, ALT 683, Tbili 1.8
- CRP 0.6 mg/dL
- COVID 19 (+)
- BCx and UCx pending
Based on the clinical presentation and laboratory evaluation, what is your leading differential diagnosis?
Shailly Gaur, MD; Shannon Carpenter, MD
Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology & BMT
Children’s Mercy Hospital
Kansas City, MO, USA
Conference Central
Stay up to date on the 2025 ASPHO Conference in Louisville, KY, May 7–10! Read about conference highlights, how to participate in the Call for Abstracts and Awards, and travel information to make your #ASPHO2025 experience memorable!
Save the Date for #ASPHO2025
Start planning for your 2025 by putting May 7–10 on your calendars to come to Louisville, KY, and connect, network, and learn with your peer community. The ASPHO Conference provides offerings for pediatric hematology/oncology specialists at all career stages, from medical students to experienced physicians.
Division Director Academy
Join us for a valuable professional development opportunity for division leadership. The 2025 session will feature faculty from the Vanderbilt Health Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy (CPPA) and focus on leadership skills in promoting professional accountability and professionalism within your division, along with networking opportunities with colleagues.
Present Your Research at the ASPHO Conference
ASPHO encourages you to submit an abstract for papers and posters to be presented at the 2025 ASPHO Conference, May 7–10, in Louisville, KY. The deadline to submit is December 19, 2024, 3pm CT. Click below for recommended topics and guidelines.
Abstracts must be original and include basic, clinical, or social science content that relates to the field of pediatric hematology or oncology. Any individual abstract may be part of an ongoing project if there are results. Abstracts previously presented may be submitted to ASPHO; however, these abstracts must be updated or modified in some way.
Abstracts could focus on a variety of topics, such as the following:
- hemostasis, thrombosis, and vascular biology
- hemoglobinopathies
- general hematology
- leukemia/lymphoma/histiocyte disorders
- solid tumors
- general oncology
- hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy
- case reports (including case series)
- outcomes research
- quality improvement/patient safety.
The conference will occur in person, and all abstract presenters will be expected to deliver their paper or poster presentation in person live in Louisville, KY.
Apply for an Award When You Submit an Abstract
Young Investigator Award
The ASPHO Young Investigator Award was established to formally recognize excellence in clinical and basic science research in pediatric hematology/oncology. The award provides funding for young investigators to attend the ASPHO Conference and present their work. The award includes $1,000 and a certificate of recognition. Up to two awards will be given per year.
Travel Stipend Awards
Early Career
The ASPHO Early Career Travel Stipend Award was created to provide funding for young investigators to attend the ASPHO Conference, present their work, and be introduced to the many benefits of ASPHO programming and networking. Up to five awards of $500 each will be given per year.
Advanced Practice Provider (APP)
The Advanced Practice Provider Travel Award has been established to provide funding for advanced practice providers to attend the ASPHO Conference, present their work, and be introduced to the many benefits of ASPHO programming and networking. Up to one award of $500 will be given per year.
All ASPHO awards will be presented in person at the 2025 ASPHO Conference in Louisville, KY.
The deadline to apply is December 19 at 3 pm CT.
Conference Highlights
Here are some highlights of the diverse session topics you'll find at #ASPHO2025:
- Recent Developments with Blinatumomab and ALL
- Fertility Preservation in the Treatment of Hemoglobinopathies
- Emerging Immunotherapy Strategies for Pediatric Brain Tumors
- End-of-Life Care: How to Respond to Uncomfortable Questions About Death and Dying
- Physical Activity and Exercise Guidelines for Children with Cancer
- Career Development for All Career Stages
- Immune Dysregulation
- Innovation in PHO Practice Addressing Workforce Challenges
Full conference details will be available when registration opens in early 2025.
Louisville Travel & Hotels
Get a head start on making your travel plans for #ASPHO2025! Learn about Louisville and take a look at the city's Visitor's Guide as you look forward to your 2025 ASPHO Conference experience. Book your stay at one of our host hotels in the ASPHO room block. ASPHO has secured a limited number of hotel rooms at a discounted rate two days before and extending two days after conference so attendees can come early and stay late. Book now to make sure you get the special rate!
Membership Benefits
Are You Engaged?
Get ‘social’ with your community online and show your support for PHO! Stay up to date with PHO health awareness days and campaigns, the latest Society happenings, Pediatric Blood and Cancer journal recommendations, and more. It's not too late to share your enthusiasm by engaging with ASPHO on X/Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Make sure to follow, like, comment, and share!
Career Center
Take advantage of ASPHO's Career Center and find the latest openings and opportunities in pediatric hematology/oncology. Get access to resume writing assistance, coaching, reference checks, search strategy videos, and more with the Resources section. View the Career Center job board, the go-to source for institutions to post jobs and recruitment opportunities in the field. Create a personal account to save job postings and skim FAQ for tips on navigating the site so you don't miss out on any helpful resources!
Stay Informed of #ASPHOAdvocacy!
Have you seen the latest issue of Advocacy Brief? Learn about important legislative and regulatory issues impacting PHO; #ASPHOadvocacy efforts to support members, patients, and the profession; and how to contact your legislators to support PHO.
