Women in Oncology: Actively Preparing for Advances in Leukemia Treatment

Catherine E. Lai, MD, MPH, an associate professor and physician leader of the Leukemia Clinical Research Unit at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, moderates a discussion with Courtney DiNardo, MD, MSCE; Eunice Wang, MD; and Jessica Altman, MD, on the toughest challenges they faced in the leukemia field at the start of their fellowships and careers.

DiNardo is an associate professor in the Department of Leukemia and Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Wang is chief of the Leukemia Service, medical director of Infusion Services, professor of oncology, and an assistant member of the Tumor Immunology Program in the Department of Immunology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Altman is a professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.

In this episode, DiNardo, Wang, and Altman discuss the state of leukemia treatment when they first entered the field and how they navigated the changes around them by staying updated with the latest advances and prioritizing patient needs. They note how limited the options were for leukemia management and the setbacks they experienced when drugs were withdrawn. They also share the hope they felt during the slow onset of clinical trials that grew into the wealth of data and therapies available today.

Additionally, the 3 leukemia experts explain their journeys toward understanding the molecular biology of this disease so they could knowledgeably recommend clinical trials and offer targeted therapies to their patients. They also talk through some highs and lows of mentorship and the value in finding a variety of mentoring communities.