SPECTRUM: Hematology from Fundamentals to Frontiers PCHTM 5th Annual Convention
The Philippine College of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine’s 5th Annual Convention was held last September 15-18, 2024. The event was attended by hematologists and allied healthcare practitioners from all over the Philippines. It was a much-anticipated event - truly the highlight of the college’s annual calendar.
The convention started off strong with a day devoted to pre-convention activities. The day was filled with high-yield sessions. The pre-convention included the college’s annual in-demand Blood Transfusions and Chemotherapy Administration Workshop for Nurses - a unique feature of the annual convention since its inception.
The research forum also showcased the outstanding efforts in hematologic research – truly essential to the growth of the field.
The afternoon sessions consisted of the Consultative Hematology Masterclass, Diagnostic Hematology Workshop, and Transfusion and Apheresis Workshop. It was an exceptional, learning-filled start to a great convention.
The convention formally opened with ceremonies led by PCHTM President Dr. Jasmin R. Igama. This was followed by the keynote lecture from renowned expert Dr. Erica Michelle Wood, Implementing Patient Blood Management in Resource-Constrained Countries.
Nine new diplomates were also inducted into PCHTM.
Day 1 of SPECTRUM was an intellectual feast with a wide range of topics covered by the afternoon and evening sessions: evidence review of sucrosomial iron, advances in DLBCL diagnosis and therapy, optimization of lymphoma care for vulnerable populations, and an industry symposium on Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia and Mantle Cell Lymphoma. There was also an insightful multi-specialty plenary discussion, Thinking Outside the Clot Multi-disciplinary Approach to Challenging Coagulopathy Cases in the ICU. The scholastic portion of the day wrapped with practical themes with sessions from key opinion leaders – Dr. Patrick Gerard Moral (Second Opinion, Second Guessing? Navigating the Ethics of Patient Choice) and Dr. Brian Michael I. Cabral (Revolutionizing Healthcare Delivery: A Comprehensive Look at Models of Medical Practice). The evening was marked with the President’s Night, where several esteemed members of the PCHTM were given Presidential Awards.
The second convention day was indeed very instructive. It started with a special Myeloma Series that looked at the spectrum of plasma cell disorders, landmark trials, the nuances of management of myeloma, and second-line treatment, featuring expert Dr. Sameer Ramesh Melinkeru. A thought-provoking series on Hematology for Special Populations followed, which examined hematologic concerns in treating transgender with leading authority Dr. Yazan Abou Ismail, a multi-specialty plenary discussion about hematology and women’s health, as well as a provocative session that aimed to build gender-inclusive healthcare with an introduction of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).
The afternoon was capped with the annual business meeting, and a fruitful trainees’ hour with Dr. Erica Wood. The evening closed with an industry symposium discussing A Path Towards Cure: Transforming Lives of Multiple Myeloma Patients.
The final convention day was marked by a stimulating Transfusion Medicine Series, that looked at the evolving transfusion practices, transfusion for special populations, and discrepant crossmatching in blood banking. This was followed by industry symposiums on tyrosine kinase inhibitors in CML and ALL. Dr. David Ross gave a remarkable discussion on treatment-free remission in CML. There were also fascinating sessions on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation that looked at MRD testing in transplant strategies in ALL and advances in the diagnosis and treatment of AML. The scientific sessions closed with session on infectious diseases in hematologic malignancies.
The convention wrapped up with sparkle and glam at the Fellowship Night. Members of the college were serenaded by tunes from Broadway with special performances from star guests and performers. The hematologists also showcased their talents in singing, dancing, and acting in their interpretation of special Broadway numbers. It was definitely a night to remember!
The 5th Annual PCHTM Convention was truly a platform for growth, learning, and collaboration. It was an opportunity to learn and exchange ideas, an academic event that strengthened expertise and enhanced camaraderie within the College.