American Society of Hematology Recognizes Two OU Health Sciences Faculty

Two University of Oklahoma Health Sciences faculty members were recognized by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) during its annual meeting Dec. 7-10.

James George, M.D., a George Lynn Cross Research Professor in the OU College of Medicine and Hudson College of Public Health, was honored with the ASH Award for Leadership in Promoting Diversity. During his career in academic medicine, George has helped to build a stronger hematology workforce by mentoring the next generation of hematologists.

Under his leadership as ASH president in 2005, the society collaborated with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program (AMFDP) to create ASH-funded AMFDP positions in hematology. Since the program’s inception, ASH has supported nearly 30 recipients, many of whom have risen to the ranks of senior faculty in their institutions.

George was also a strong supporter of the ASH Medical Student Award Program, which provides research support for medical students underrepresented in medicine to encourage them to pursue hematology. To date, the program has supported more than 300 research opportunities for medical students. Additionally, George co-developed and directed the ASH Clinical Research Training Institute, an inclusive yearlong program that offers broad education for clinicians on clinical research methods.

Jennifer Holter-Chakrabarty, M.D., a professor in the OU College of Medicine and hematologist-oncologist at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, was elected to serve a four-year term as an ASH councilor.

Holter-Chakrabarty’s research background is in leukemia, transplantation and imaging of marrow failure syndromes. An active ASH member since 2003, she is chair of the Committee on Government Affairs, co-chair of the Advocacy Leadership Institute, and served as an appointed member on the Guideline Oversight Committee.