[Board-certified "hematologist" and "clinical laboratory physician": double jobbing-flow with the tide]

The Women Doctors Career Symposium entitled "Dreams: Female Hematologists' Talk" was held at the 84th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Hematology. I would like to share my experience as a board-certified "hematologist" and "clinical laboratory physician." Certified clinical laboratory physician is one of the 19 fundamental areas in the Japanese Medical Specialty board, but the number is small, and it is also an area where hematologists can easily face challenges. It also allows you to balance career advancement and various life events. It is extremely difficult to forge one's own path, but it is relatively simple to take the advice of others and choose one's path. "We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails." This is one way to consider continuing a career.

[A message to hematology residents in diverse career pathways]

In the present decade, the number of female hematologists and their ratio to the total number of hematologists have increased. This increase in the number of female physicians with various work styles have made physicians aware of diverse career paths. To attain an uninterrupted career, physicians have to overcome obstacles such as severe working environment or intolerance of diversity. The Committee on Studies of Career Education for Female Physicians proposed five learning objectives for all physicians to attain an uninterrupted career: professional awareness of the missions of being a physician, ability to make career plans, flexibility to embrace diverse values of the profession, appropriate attitudes toward supports, and recognition of social gender differences. Learning objectives corresponding to the learning period were also proposed. In order to make career plans, residents need to collect the information on specialty training, perceive a variety of individuals as potential role models, and create, review, and change their own career plan. Residents should become familiar with the process for becoming board-certified hematologists through understanding the new training program for hematology residency.

Recognition and attitudes of Japanese hematologists on sperm banking before chemotherapy: present status from nationwide questionnaire survey

BACKGROUND

Treatment advancements have improved young cancer patients' survival rate considerably. Fertility preservation has become a very important tool in the prevention of treatment-induced gonadal toxicity. This study aimed to examine hematologists' awareness of its necessity and importance.

METHODS

Questionnaires were mailed to the directors of 230 institutes that treated hematological malignancies in adults. The directors were asked to provide information regarding their institutes, collaboration with sperm banks, the number of patients treated per year, selection criteria for patients providing information, and their awareness of and attitudes toward sperm preservation.

RESULTS

The response rate was 40.0%. Municipal and private hospitals treated patients significantly less frequently relative to university hospitals (p = .002). Of the 92 participating hematology institutions, 17 included sperm banks and 69 collaborated with sperm banks in neighboring institutions. Many participants stated that sperm preservation should be performed before chemotherapy; however, only 38% provided sperm preservation information to all patients. Participants in facilities without sperm banks exhibited significantly lower levels of knowledge regarding sperm preservation, relative to those from institutions with sperm banks, and found discussing fertility preservation burdensome. This trend was identical to that observed in a survey conducted 10 years earlier.

CONCLUSION

Many hematologists did not appear to possess sufficient knowledge regarding fertility preservation. Moreover, few institutions included sperm banks, and a considerable burden was exerted on hematologists. The introduction of support systems is required to promote sperm preservation before cancer treatment.

Twitter 101 and beyond: introduction to social media platforms available to practicing hematologist/oncologists

Social media utilizes specific media platforms to allow increased interactivity between participants. These platforms serve diverse groups and purposes including participation from patients, family caregivers, research scientists, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies. Utilization of these information outlets has increased with integration at conferences and between conferences with the use of hashtags and "chats". In the realm of the "e-Patient" it is key to not underestimate your audience. Highly technical information is just as useful as a basic post. With growing use, social media analytics help track the volume and impact of content. Additionally, platforms are leveraging each other for uses, including Twitter, blogs, web radio, and recorded video and images. We explore information on social media resources and applications from varying perspectives. While these platforms will evolve over time, or disappear with new platforms taking their place, it is apparent they are now a part of the everyday experience of oncology communication.