Pulling Back the Curtain
Continued from page 15 the United States . At that time , clinical pathologists trained at the West Roxbury VA Medical Center , which I felt was too far away . When I told Dr . Cotran this , he said simply , “ Okay , so why don ’ t you do it here ?” He suggested I set up my own training at Brigham and Women ’ s , which had no formal clinical pathology training program at the time .
For a few years , I helped train all residents interested in clinical pathology , then leadership of the program was assumed by David Sacks , MD . Today , it is one of the most successful clinical pathology training programs in the country . I only played a small role in getting the program started , but I would not have been able to accomplish it without the mentorship of Dr . Cotran .
In 1992 , Orah Platt , MD , the chair of laboratory medicine at Boston Children ’ s Hospital , asked me to come over from Brigham and Women ’ s to take care of the hematology and coagulation laboratory . I have been here for 29 years now .
I don ’ t know what Dr . Canessa saw in me in 1982 – this guy from Italy who didn ’ t speak English very well – but she offered me the opportunity to stay here for the summer and begin my career in the United States . The same was true with Drs . Bunn , Tosteson , and Cotran . They each saw potential that I couldn ’ t see in myself and offered me opportunities that shaped my career . I feel fortunate to have had the best possible mentors in my career .
What drew you to clinical pathology specifically ? Clinical pathology is a great way to combine research efforts with clinical medicine . While we do not directly take care of patients , we help physicians interpret tests , select tests , and provide feedback on challenging cases . In my opinion , the beauty of clinical pathology is that it allows you to be involved in clinical medicine without the heavy burden of caring for patients and all the other things that our clinical colleagues do – and that we all greatly appreciate .
What has been your greatest career accomplishment so far ? When I ’ m giving a talk , the person who introduces me might mention how I have published more than 200 papers , and I cringe because that is not how I define accomplishment . Above all , I value the people with whom I work closely in research and the bonds that we have formed throughout the years . For instance , Alan Kopin , MD , who I met in Dr . Tosteson ’ s lab in 1982 , is one of my best friends . I remember driving to a gas station with him and drawing blood from a morbidly obese patient who was kind enough to give us red cells for our research , which we turned into a beautiful paper in the Journal of Clinical Investigation . I have become close friends with several people whom I ’ ve worked with in the lab or in the clinic during my time at Boston . Also , I have learned that it helps to have a good espresso maker in your office , as an additional incentive for people to come by and chat with you .
My greatest accomplishment is being able to help trainees as they launch their careers . It ’ s so
Dr . Brugnara ( at left ) at the Giza Necropolis with his daughter Alessia and family friends in 2001 .
rewarding to see them publishing a paper or giving a talk and feel that I played a small role in their success . At the end of the day , that ’ s what matters to me . Science is always changing and what ’ s new today is old tomorrow . The relationships we form last longer .
What advice would you pass on to early-career hematologists ? Given my experiences , I always try to encourage early-career hematologists to look for mentors who really care about them , the way mine did for me . Find a mentor who knows your strengths and weaknesses and can gently guide you down the best path for you . Your area of research may shift over time , and a good mentor can help guide you through that process . They can see your potential , even when you can ’ t , and help you to realize it . A second piece of advice is to try to connect with as many colleagues as possible – scientifically , clinically , and personally . This network is key to support your career , start new scientific projects , and increase your visibility .
How did you become editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Hematology ? Had you held previous roles in academic publishing ? It ’ s a funny story . When the journal was looking for a new editor-in-chief in 2007 , one of my very good friends and colleagues , Martin Steinberg , MD , was on the selection committee . He told me that I should apply , and I initially declined because , at the time , the journal had seen better days , to put it politely . I also had no prior experience running a journal – even as an associate editor or member of an editorial board . Martin convinced me to apply anyway , and I must have written a convincing plan to get the journal back in shape because I was selected . Becoming editorin-chief of the American Journal of Hematology in 2007 was my first role in academic publishing .
Improving the journal was a team effort and a long process . As we started being more selective in the papers we published , the journal grew . Academic journal editors live and die by the impact factor , and in our case , we raised the impact factor over 15 years from 1.5 to more than 10 . I attribute
Dr . Brugnara and his daughter Camille skiing in the Dolomites in Italy .
this to selecting high-quality people who care about the journal for your editorial board , such as Ayalew Tefferi , MD , and David Porter , MD , who were my first selections as associate editors . I cannot overemphasize the value of a good team of editors . I ’ ve enjoyed my time as editor-in-chief and have learned a tremendous amount about hematology and oncology .
Tell us about your life outside of medicine . What do you enjoy doing in your off-hours ? Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic , I used to go to the gym every day for fitness classes , such as yoga , spinning , and powerlifting . I was sometimes the oldest guy in the class by about 20 years , but I was always able to keep up ! Now , my exercise routine consists of solitary biking on the stationary bike at home . I used to ski often but do it less now . About three years ago , I discovered audiobooks , and I now listen to books in Italian , French , and English during walks or my commute to work . My favorite activity now is to walk , especially when I am visiting cities like New York , Vienna , and Paris . Let me just walk without a destination and I ’ m perfectly happy . ●
18 ASH Clinical News November 2021