The National Hemophilia Foundation has created a new research fellowship that seeks to create greater diversity in the field of benign hematology with the Jeanne M. Lusher Diversity Fellowship (JML). The fellowship, which hopes to foster career-long interest in inheritable bleeding and blood disorders, is open to Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) who are enrolled in a doctoral program in a biomedical field relevant to blood disorders. The goal of the fellowship is to identify clinicians from under-represented communities and genders early in their career and establish an interest in inheritable bleeding and blood disorders that will sustain them throughout their careers.
The fellowship honors the distinguished legacy of Dr. Jeanne M. Lusher, a pioneering clinician and researcher who died in 2016. Dr. Lusher’s tremendous impact on the bleeding disorders community began in 1961 when she helped to diagnose a young girl with a rare instance of hemophilia. As a researcher, she focused on inhibitor development in factor VIII patients. Along with a colleague, she was the first to identify inhibitors as antibodies to factor VIII in 1966. She authored more than 270 peer-reviewed papers, nine books and more than 60 book chapters. Dr. Lusher served as chair of NHF’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC) from 1994-2000.
“Dr. Lusher was a tremendous mentor to young hematologists who wanted to work with patients with bleeding disorders,” said Michelle Wiktop, DNP, NHF’s head of research. “We hope this new fellowship will eventually create a research community that reflects the diversity of the patient community we serve.”
More information on the JML Fellowship, including how to apply, can be found here.
