HemeTalks: Conversations in Hematology Education

About HemeTalks: Conversations in Hematology Education

HemeTalks: Conversations in Hematology Education is an American Society of Hematology (ASH) podcast for community hematologists, advanced practice providers, and trainees. Through engaging storytelling and case-based discussions with guests ranging from early-career professionals to leading experts, the podcast offers practical strategies that make complex hematology topics accessible and relevant at every career stage. Its mission is to support the educational needs of its audience through high-quality, clinically focused content.

Publisher

American Society of Hematology

Category

education · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Jun 2023

Latest episode

1 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

44 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Oct 2026

   From Aplastic Anemia to PNH: The Patient Perspective

   In this episode of HemeTalks, we are joined by Ms. Elise Burton, who shares her experience living with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Elise describes how her journey began several years earlier with a diagnosis of aplastic anemia, before her condition was later recognized as PNH after she developed evidence of unexplained hemolysis. She walks through her treatment journey, including eculizumab, ravulizumab, and enrollment in a danicopan clinical trial, as well as the side effects she experienced, the financial navigation required to stay on therapy, and the routine health maintenance that can be displaced when managing a rare disease becomes all-consuming. She also discusses the patient communities and advocacy organizations that supported her. Our patient advocate episodes highlight the importance of advocacy, community, and shared understanding between patients and their health care providers. Key Takeaways: 1. Preemptive anticipatory counseling is critical for patients, particularly those with rare diseases, to ensure rapid access to life-saving care in emergencies. Elise shares how her hematologist made sure she understood her condition and gave her essential contact information, along with a letter detailing her condition to share with healthcare professionals if she ever needed emergency medical attention. Equipping patients with a plan before a crisis can meaningfully change the care they receive. 2. Rare disease care can become a part-time job, and general health maintenance can get lost. Patients with chronic hematologic diseases have medical needs beyond their hematologic condition. Hematologists can help by acknowledging the administrative burden, connecting patients with organizations such as AAMDS, NORD, The Assistance Fund, and the Patient Advocate Foundation, and reinforcing the importance of routine health screenings. To access the PNH patient resources mentioned in this episode, please refer to the link provided here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p0MF8hPnc5TZgKnbG3G2FTyjBHR8KIl2/view?usp=sharing). This episode was supported by Alexion.

2. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Caring for Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease

   Dr. Cece Calhoun (Yale School of Medicine) joins Heme Talks to discuss one of the most vulnerable moments in sickle cell care: the transition from pediatric to adult management. Using a real case of a 24-year-old with hemoglobin SC disease re-establishing care after a lapse, Dr. Calhoun walks through how to build trust with adolescent and young adult patients, why sickle cell disease is a systemic vascular and inflammatory condition rather than "just pain," and how to explain complex pathophysiology in patient-friendly language. The conversation covers essential screening guidelines for new adult patients, strategies for community providers managing sickle cell without specialist access, the evolving role of hydroxyurea (including the PIVOT trial in hemoglobin SC disease), and a practical, patient-centered approach to outpatient pain management. Clinical Pearls: The first visit is about trust, not just data.  Understanding a patient's life context, not just their labs is foundational, especially for AYA patients re-entering care after a gap; overwhelming a new patient with testing can undermine that trust. Sickle cell disease is systemic, not just a localized vaso-occlusive crisis. Even "milder" genotypes like hemoglobin SC cause damage through chronic inflammation, hemolysis, and vascular interaction. The historical framing of SC as mild disease is outdated, and end-organ damage can appear early in young adults. Structured screening and collaboration close care gaps. New adult patients need a full baseline workup (CBC/retic, electrophoresis, renal and liver labs, brain MRI, ophthalmology referral), and providers without sickle cell specialization should identify a partner institution and use published NHLBI/ASH guidelines rather than navigating complex cases alone. Hydroxyurea remains foundational, even without perfect evidence in SC disease. It's the only FDA-approved therapy shown to prolong survival in sickle cell disease; while the PIVOT trial's data in hemoglobin SC disease is still limited, empiric use is reasonable in symptomatic patients showing signs of pain or end-organ damage. For additional ASH resources related to Sickle Cell Disease, please consider visiting our ASH Clinical Practice Guidelines on Sickle Cell Disease (https://www.hematology.org/education/clinicians/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-practice-guidelines/sickle-cell-disease-guidelines) web page. This podcast episode is supported by Sanofi.

3. 

   3 Sept 2026

   From Steroids to Cure: A Modern Approach to Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

   Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a diagnosis of exclusion but treating it is anything but straightforward. In this episode, Dr. Adam Cuker (University of Pennsylvania) joins us to break down how the management of ITP is evolving in real time, from diagnostic pitfalls to a preview of the newly released ASH ITP guidelines. We cover first-line corticosteroid strategies, when to add IVIG, how to choose between the many other available options in the second line and later settings. A world-expert in ITP management, Dr. Cuker shares many important clinical pearls and management strategies to help our listeners care for their patients with ITP. Clinical Perls 1. ITP remains a diagnosis of exclusion with no confirmatory gold-standard test; diagnostic confidence is ultimately established by a robust platelet response to ITP-directed therapy (steroids, IVIG). Roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of adults with primary ITP will follow a chronic course, which should inform prognostic counseling at diagnosis. 2. Frontline management is evolving away from steroid monotherapy. While corticosteroids (prednisone or high-dose dexamethasone) remain the backbone, forthcoming ASH guideline updates support pairing steroids with a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) or rituximab upfront rather than delaying combination therapy, given emerging evidence this approach may reduce steroid exposure and improve long-term disease course. 3. In the second-line setting, TPO-RAs (eltrombopag, avatrombopag, romiplostim) are generally favored over rituximab given higher overall response rates, though rituximab may be preferable in patients with high thrombotic risk, those averse to chronic medication, or young women with ITP of less than one year's duration, who show higher observed response rates. TPO-RA switching is well supported (i.e., failure of one agent does not preclude response to another). 4. Third-line options (fostamatinib, mycophenylate mofetil, rilzabrutinib), often combined with a TPO-RA to hit multiple mechanisms, are reserved for refractory disease; splenectomy is now reserved for highly refractory patients, those failing hospital-based salvage therapy, or patients with a strong preference to avoid chronic medication. For additional ASH resources related to ITP, please consider visiting our ASH Clinical Practice Guidelines on Immune Thrombocytopenia  (https://www.hematology.org/education/clinicians/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-practice-guidelines/immune-thrombocytopenia-guidelines)web page. This podcast episode is supported by AutoLus.

Who has been a guest on HemeTalks: Conversations in Hematology Education

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Richard Burwick
• Shruti Chaturvedi
• Dr Margo Rollins
• experts from cellular therapy and bone marrow transplantation (BMT)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 15 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

16

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact HemeTalks: Conversations in Hematology Education

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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