We at American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) acknowledge National Minority Health Month. ASTCT, formerly the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT), is a professional membership organization with approximately 2,000 members across the United States and around the globe. ASTCT membership consists of physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, pharmacist, scientists, social workers and healthcare administrators committed to blood and marrow transplantation and cellular therapy. ASTCT members treat patients with advanced blood cancers and autoimmune diseases.
ASTCT is committed to achieving a diverse workforce. To this end, ASTCT recently commissioned a new special interest group (SIG) as well as a Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The new co-chairs for Diversity and Inclusion Committee are Dr. Belinda Avalos and Dr. Sophie Paczesny. Additionally, to ensure diversity and inclusion is considered during all board decisions, the board also approved a new Diversity and Inclusion Board Officer position. Dr. Stefanie Sarantopoulos from Duke University will serve as acting Diversity and Inclusion Board Officer. The committee and the board will seek new programming and partnerships to recruit more underrepresented minorities (URM) to the field and more leadership opportunities for women, URM and LGBQT members.
ASTCT is also committed to conquering underserved diseases The exciting field of transplantation and cellular therapy has several new advances to include CAR-T and transplantation for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Our goal is to return kids to parents and parents back to kids.
In the United States (per CDC), the exact number of people living with SCD in the U.S. is unknown and this is a gap of knowledge that we would like to fill. Working with partners, notably ASH, the CDC supports projects to learn about the number of people living with SCD to better understand how the disease impacts their health.
It is estimated that:
- SCD affects approximately 100,000 Americans.
- SCD occurs among about 1 out of every 365 Black or African-American births.
- SCD occurs among about 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American births.
- About 1 in 13 Black or African-American babies is born with sickle cell trait (SCT).
ASTCT President, Dr. Navneet Majhail states ASTCT is committed to “accelerating health equity for the nation. ” Our focus on clinical research, science, education, workforce development and medical care to treat and reduce mortality for individuals living with SCD and advanced blood cancers will help achieve our goal of health equity.
To learn more about Minority Health Month, please visit https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/nmhm19/