When SOHO was founded in 2012, we envisioned a society that would provide education, insight, connection, and meaningful opportunities for collaboration among clinicians and researchers working across the field of hematologic oncology. That vision has grown far beyond what we could have imagined. Today, SOHO is a global community of 13,000 members and counting, united by a shared commitment to advancing research, improving clinical practice, mentoring the next generation of clinicians, and delivering better treatments to patients with hematologic malignancies.
Dear colleagues,
As executive director of the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO), it has been my privilege to witness the extraordinary growth of our society and the community it serves.
When SOHO was founded in 2012, we envisioned a society that would provide education, insight, connection, and meaningful opportunities for collaboration among clinicians and researchers working across the field of hematologic oncology. That vision has grown far beyond what we could have imagined. Today, SOHO is a global community of 13,000 members and counting, united by a shared commitment to advancing research, improving clinical practice, mentoring the next generation of clinicians, and delivering better treatments to patients with hematologic malignancies.
Our members give SOHO its purpose. Every program we develop is designed to support the clinicians, investigators, and other healthcare professionals whose work moves our field forward. By bringing together leading researchers, practicing clinicians in our communities, and early-career clinicians, SOHO creates an environment in which knowledge can be shared across institutions, specialties, career stages, and geographic boundaries.
This exchange is especially important for the next generation of hematologic oncology leaders. Over the years, recipients of our young investigator scholarships have told us that they met a mentor, began a collaboration, or discovered a new professional opportunity with the support of the society’s funding.
At our Annual Meeting, leading researchers come together to share their knowledge and engage directly with younger members in the field. Those interactions can have multiple downstream effects, including shaping careers, inspiring new research questions, and ultimately contributing to the development of innovative treatments for patients.
In 2026, we expanded that commitment through a new fellowship program launched in partnership with SOHO President John DiPersio, MD, PhD. The program was created to help more young clinicians and investigators attend the Annual Meeting and participate in all of its educational opportunities. By reducing barriers to participation, we hope to give emerging leaders greater access to the mentors, colleagues, and ideas that can support them as their careers advance.
We remain dedicated to supporting early-career researchers through our long-standing Young Investigator Program, which provides scholarships to attend the Annual Meeting, present their research, and pursue professional development opportunities.
At the same time, our Ambassador Program extends SOHO’s reach throughout the international hematology community. Our ambassadors connect colleagues in their regions with SOHO’s programs and resources, including those in underresourced areas or who may be unable to travel to other meetings.
This year has been an outstanding one for SOHO in many other ways. As our membership and programming have grown, we have expanded our internal team to support the society’s growing needs and develop new resources for our members.
Chief among these new resources is our Ask-the-Expert forums led by the prominent hematologic oncologists in the field. This resource was designed for clinicians seeking guidance on difficult cases from the world’s leading specialists. The forum gives members an accessible way to raise clinical questions and exchange perspectives.
I am also excited to announce the launch of our second podcast, SOHO Spotlight, an education-focused program featuring timely conversations about developments in hematologic oncology. It complements our established SOHO Insider podcast and expands our growing collection of digital educational offerings.
Another important addition is SOHO’s Clinical Trial database, designed to make it easier for clinicians to search for relevant studies and identify potential trial opportunities for their patients. Clinical trial information can be difficult and time-consuming to navigate. By bringing these resources together in a more accessible format, we aim to help clinicians connect eligible patients with studies that may offer additional treatment options.
As we celebrate this progress, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to Dr. DiPersio for his leadership, enthusiasm, and dedication during his tenure as SOHO president. His ideas, openness and commitment to the society have helped us develop new opportunities for our members while preserving the collaborative spirit that defines SOHO.
We are also delighted to welcome Valeria Santini, MD, a founding member of SOHO, as our next president. Dr. Santini has been part of the society since its earliest days and understands both the vision on which SOHO was founded and the expanding needs of our global community. We look forward to her leadership as SOHO enters its next chapter.
SOHO has grown tremendously since 2012, but our purpose remains clear: to bring the hematologic oncology community together, make expert knowledge widely accessible, support clinicians and investigators throughout their careers, and help accelerate progress for patients. I am deeply grateful to every member, volunteer, faculty participant, ambassador, young investigator, and staff member who has contributed to this mission. Together, we are shaping the future of hematologic oncology.
Sincerely,
Janet M. Cesak, MBA, BS
PS: Don’t forget to register for SOHO Breakthroughs in Blood Cancers (SBBC) happening on November 12. This one-day virtual meeting, chaired by Hagop Kantarjian, MD, delivers the latest cutting-edge science in hematologic malignancies. SOHO members can register for free at soho.click/SBBC.
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