Ayalew Tefferi, MD is a professor of Hematology and Medicine at Mayo Clinic and a distinguished physician specializing in the pathophysiology, natural history, and treatment of chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis. He completed his MD at the University of Athens Medical School, followed by a residency in internal medicine at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago, IL. Ayalew Tefferi, MD then completed his residency in hematology and fellowship in hematology at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. His research encompasses both database and laboratory-based studies, aiming to develop new therapeutic drugs for these conditions. Ayalew Tefferi, MD meticulously analyzes clinical and laboratory risk factors predictive of patient outcomes in MPNs, such as fibrotic transformation, leukemic transformation, and overall survival. He utilizes disease-specific clinical databases, with data collected over several decades, to identify these risk factors. Additionally, he has led extensive research in genetic and mutational profiling of MPNs, resulting in the creation of genetic and clinical-molecular prognostic models, which are now integral to contemporary clinical care for patients with MPNs. He has spearheaded numerous clinical trials, contributing to the licensing of several drugs for MPNs in the U.S. Notable therapeutic agents include ruxolitinib and momelotinib for the treatment of myelofibrosis. Ayalew Tefferi, MD has also conducted pioneering studies on rare MPNs, including systemic mastocytosis, eosinophilic conditions, histiocytic disorders, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms are a group of relatively uncommon diseases with poorly understood clinical and biological features, and the only curative treatment is stem cell transplantation. Ayalew Tefferi, MD's research has significantly enhanced the understanding of these diseases, identified critical patient characteristics, and developed new treatments. His work is widely adopted by MPN experts and incorporated into international guidelines. His studies on rare MPNs have also advanced disease biology understanding and informed rational treatment strategies. Ayalew Tefferi, MD is deeply committed to improving patient care by educating other healthcare professionals and sharing his extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of hematology.

Catherine Broome, MD is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. She is board certified in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology and has been on staff at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center for over a decade, where she specializes in benign hematology. Dr. Broome's clinical expertise includes cold agglutinin disease, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and pure red cell aplasia. She is actively involved in clinical research and routinely offers patients access to clinical trials focused on rare and complex hematologic disorders. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Broome serves as an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University and is engaged in the education and mentorship of trainees. She also participates in institutional safety and quality initiatives across MedStar Health. This session will provide clinical updates in cold agglutinin disease, focusing on diagnostic nuances, evolving disease classification, and emerging therapeutic strategies. Emphasis will be placed on practical management considerations and individualized patient care in this complement mediated hemolytic anemia.

Ilene Weitz, MD is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC). She practices at LAC+USC Medical Center, Keck Hospital of USC, and USC Norris Cancer Hospital. Ilene Weitz, MD is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Hematology. She earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and pursued a fellowship in hematology/oncology at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in La Jolla, California. Ilene Weitz, MD's clinical and research interests encompass a range of hematologic disorders, including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), cold agglutinin disease, thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA), sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and immune-mediated anemias and thrombocytopenia. She has contributed to numerous publications in journals such as the American Journal of Hematology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Hepatology, and has authored several book chapters and reviews. A dedicated educator, Ilene Weitz, MD has been recognized with the Morris Press Humanism Award and the Golden Apple Outstanding Physician Educator Award from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She has also received the Outstanding Voluntary Faculty Award in the Division of Hematology from USC School of Medicine. Ilene Weitz, MD continues to advance the field of hematology through her clinical practice, research, and commitment to medical education.