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Remembering Milton H. Freedman (1919 – 2019)
Milton H. Freedman, MD, the first hematologist to
open a private practice in Atlanta, died on January
21, 2019.
Dr. Freedman was born in Atlanta, where he
spent almost his entire life, except for a stint in
Milton H. Freedman,
the U.S. Navy as a flight surgeon during World
MD
War II and a hematology fellowship at Pratt
Diagnostic Hospital (now Tufts Medical Center) in
Boston. There, he worked with William Dameshek, MD, founder
of the Blood journal and an architect of the American Society of
Hematology (ASH).
Dr. Freedman graduated from Emory University School of Medicine,
where he also earned his undergraduate degree. He completed his in-
ternship and internal medicine residency at Grady Hospital in Atlanta.
In 1949, Dr. Freedman became the first hematologist to open a private
practice in Atlanta. He retired from his solo medical practice after 45
years, then worked as a physician consultant for the Disability Quality
Branch of the Social Security Administration from 1994 until his death.
Dr. Freedman is survived by three daughters, three granddaughters,
and many nieces and nephews. His wife of 64 years passed away in 2012.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 22, 2019.
Emory Appoints Madhav V. Dhodapkar as
Inaugural Chair NYU’S Perlmutter Cancer Center Earns NCI’s
Comprehensive Status
Madhav V. Dhodapkar, MBBS, was named the first
Anise McDaniel Brock Chair in Cancer Innovation at
Emory University School of Medicine, in recognition
of his research in cancer immunology and transla-
tional immunotherapy. Dr. Dhodapkar is director of
Winship Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Immu-
Madhav V. Dhodapkar, nology and professor in the Department of Hema-
MBBS
tology and Medical Oncology at Emory University
School of Medicine.
The endowed chair was established in honor of the mother of
patient John Brock.
Prior to joining Winship and Emory, Dr. Dhodapkar was chief of
hematology and the Arthur H. and Isabel Bunker Professor of Medicine
(Hematology) at Yale University School of Medicine. He also served as
professor of immunobiology and codirector of the Cancer Immunology
Program within the Yale Cancer Center.
His research centers on harnessing the properties of the immune
system to detect, prevent, and treat cancer, with a focus on multiple
myeloma. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has designated NYU Langone
Health’s Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center a Comprehensive
Cancer Center, joining 50 other U.S. cancer centers that have earned
this recognition. As a Comprehensive Cancer Center, Perlmutter will
receive nearly $20 million in new NCI funding to support its research
programs, infrastructure, and technology.
Benjamin G. Neel, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and director of
Perlmutter Cancer Center, commented: “We are proud of what we have
accomplished, and gratified that our efforts have been rewarded with
our elevation to NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center status.”
Source: Winship Cancer Institute press release, February 5, 2019.
Source: NYU Langone Health, February 6, 2019.
AACR Selects Hematologists for Scientific
Achievement Awards
At its 2019 annual meeting, the American Association for Cancer
Research (AACR) announced the recipients of its Scientific
Achievement Awards and Lectureships, including two researchers
whose work contributed to the field of hematologic malignancies:
Caryn Lerman Named Director of USC Norris
The University of Southern California (USC) Norris
Comprehensive Cancer Center appointed Caryn
Lerman, PhD, the center’s new director. Dr. Lerman
also will serve as professor of psychiatry and the
behavioral sciences at the Keck School of Medicine
of USC.
Prior to joining USC, Dr. Lerman served as the
Caryn Lerman, PhD
John H. Glick Professor for Cancer Research and
vice dean for strategic initiatives at the Perelman
School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Throughout
her career, she has conducted extensive research into cancer preven-
tion and reducing the burden of a cancer diagnosis; her efforts have
spanned the fields of neuroscience, pharmacology, genetics, and
behavioral science.
In her new position, Dr. Lerman will focus on enhancing interdis-
ciplinary research at the center, enabling infrastructure to support
the development of new therapies, and developing new models for
community outreach about cancer prevention.
Source: University of Southern California press release, February 11, 2019.
Cornelis J.M. Melief,
MD, PhD
Cornelis J.M. Melief, MD, PhD, professor emeritus and
head of the Department of Immunohematology and
Blood Transfusion at Leiden University Medical Center
in the Netherlands was named the recipient of the
seventh AACR-Cancer Research Institute Lloyd J. Old
Award in Cancer Immunology. This award recognizes
an active scientist who has conducted innovative
research in cancer immunology; Dr. Melief’s work fo-
cuses on developing immunotherapies and improving
their effectiveness through combination approaches.
Emil J. Freireich, MD, professor in the Department
of Leukemia in the division of Cancer Medicine and
director of the Adult Leukemia Research Program at
the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,
was named the recipient of the 16th AACR Award for
Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research. This award
recognizes an individual who has made significant
Emil J. Freireich, MD
contributions to cancer research, either through
a single scientific discovery or a body of work. Dr.
Freireich is being recognized for his essential role in developing an ef-
fective treatment for childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia. ●
Source: AACR press release, March 15, 2019.
ASHClinicalNews.org
ASH Clinical News
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