Dear Colleagues,
I am honored to step into the role as Deputy Director for the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO). Having collaborated with the SOHO team for many years behind the scenes, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as part of the staff. With over 20 years of experience leading a nonprofit medical education company, I bring expertise in nonprofit management, instructional design, and adult learning principles. My goal is to leverage this experience to enhance SOHO’s programs, ensuring our education empowers clinicians to deliver exceptional patient care.
Looking forward, I am particularly focused on three pillars that are central to SOHO’s mission:
- Membership
- The Ambassador Program
- The Young Investigators Program (YIP)
Membership is the bedrock of our society, and expanding it amplifies our global impact. The Ambassador Program has established SOHO’s presence in 69 countries, bringing our mission to life at the local level and solidifying our status as a truly global organization. YIP invests in the next generation of clinicians and scientists, equipping them with the tools and recognition needed to drive innovation. These initiatives embody SOHO’s commitment to advancing hematologic oncology through collaboration and education.
As we look to the future, I am excited to align our efforts with the vision of SOHO’s incoming 2025-2026 President, John DiPersio, MD, PhD, who has set the theme for SOHO 2026: “Advancing Care Through Collaborative Science.” This theme resonates deeply as we navigate a landscape where research funding is increasingly constrained, and clinical trials face rising complexities and costs. Dr. DiPersio emphasizes the critical need for public private partnerships to sustain basic science, streamline clinical trials, and ensure access to innovative therapies. SOHO is uniquely positioned to address these challenges by fostering education that bridges academia, industry, and clinical practice.
Another important priority is supporting community oncologists, who may often see fewer patients with blood cancers compared with solid tumors but make critical decisions with their patients. By designing practical, accessible, and actionable educational resources, SOHO can empower these clinicians with clear guidance on best practices and referral pathways, ultimately improving care for their patients. Additionally, we will explore ways to equip investigators— especially early-career scientists—with the skills to navigate funding opportunities, as Dr. DiPersio has highlighted, ensuring their groundbreaking work continues despite declining public funding.
On a personal level, the Deputy Director role holds deep significance for me. Having lost both my mother-in-law and grandmother to chronic lymphocytic leukemia, I have a profound commitment to advance education in this complex field. Equipping clinicians with the skills to guide patients and families through challenging decisions is a responsibility I carry forward in my work with SOHO, which feels like a natural extension of my lifelong dedication to medical education.
SOHO has grown into a global leader in hematologic oncology, and I am proud to contribute to this journey. I look forward to collaborating with all of you as we expand our programs, strengthen our mission, and support physicians and investigators worldwide to improve the lives of patients with blood cancers. Together, we will advance care through collaborative science, ensuring that SOHO remains at the forefront of innovation and impact.
Sincerely,
Kristin Gusack, RD, CHCP
Deputy Director, SOHO
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