David A. Williams is the 2024 recipient of the ASPHO Distinguished Career Award

David A. Williams, associate chair of Pediatric Oncology and chief of Hematology/Oncology at Boston Children’s Hospital, is the 2024 recipient of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) Distinguished Career Award.

The Distinguished Career Award is presented annually by ASPHO to a senior physician or other professional who during his or her career has had a major impact on the subspecialty through some combination of research, education, patient care, and advocacy.  

Williams joined Dana-Farber/Boston Children‘s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center in 2007. In addition to caring for patients, he is an accomplished researcher and teacher, having mentored more than 40 postdoctoral fellows during his career.

His research focuses on the biology of hematopoietic stem cells, which are the precursors of the body‘s blood cells, and how they interact inside the bone marrow. Abnormalities in these interactions can lead to leukemia.

Williams‘ lab specializes in the study of the Rho GTPase family of proteins and has shown that they play a key role in stem cells‘ ability to migrate to the bone marrow and take root, or engraft, there. The lab‘s discoveries are helping lay the groundwork for gene therapies that target specific abnormalities in stem cells. His laboratory has been funded by the National Institutes of Health since 1986. He has led fellowship training programs in pediatric hematology/oncology at both Cincinnati Children‘s Hospital Medical Center and Boston Children‘s Hospital.

On this Occasion Dana-Farber Cancer Institute posted on LinkedIn:

“David A. Williams, MD, associate chair of Pediatric Oncology and chief of Hematology/Oncology at Boston Children‘s Hospital, is the 2024 recipient of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) Distinguished Career Award. The annual award recognizes a senior physician or other professional who has made a major impact on pediatric hematology/oncology through research, education, patient care, and advocacy.

Williams joined Dana-Farber/Boston Children‘s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center in 2007. In addition to caring for patients, he is an accomplished researcher and teacher, having mentored more than 40 postdoctoral fellows during his career.

His research focuses on the biology of hematopoietic stem cells, which are the precursors of the body’s blood cells, and how they interact inside the bone marrow. Abnormalities in these interactions can lead to leukemia.

Williams’ lab specializes in the study of the Rho GTPase family of proteins and has shown that they play a key role in stem cells’ ability to migrate to the bone marrow and take root, or engraft, there. The lab’s discoveries are helping lay the groundwork for gene therapies that target specific abnormalities in stem cells. His laboratory has been funded by the National Institutes of Health since 1986. He has led fellowship training programs in pediatric hematology/oncology at both Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital.

ASPHO is the only professional organization dedicated solely to the development and interests of pediatric hematology/oncology specialists. With more than 2,000 members, it works to advance research, education, and training in the field.

‘I am honored to receive this wonderful recognition from my colleagues,’ remarks Williams. ‘More importantly, I have been honored to lead Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Dana-Farber/Boston Children‘s for 17 years and to continue caring for patients with serious blood diseases with those I consider the finest faculty, physicians, and trainees in the world.'”

Source: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/LinkedIn