22nd Annual Indy Hematology ReviewTM

Saturday, March 8th 2025 | The Westin Indianapolis

Indy Hematology Review Supporters

A DRIVE for Inclusion and Diversity

First introduced in 2022 and more relevant since the current clinical research trials frequently do not enroll minorities of color, including African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanic Americans. Therefore, we continue evaluating ongoing clinical research, and emerging data in hematologic malignancies and non-malignant conditions, and it is still very clear that we as providers have failed to ensure that data generated for efficacy and of adverse reactions are applicable to certain populations that we treat, even in diseases that disproportionately affect minorities. For example, Multiple myeloma occurs in 20% of African Americans yet current major studies have less than 5% enrollment of African American, African, or black participants. We still see glaring examples in the evaluation of the safety of agents for cardiovascular risks, hypertension, and diabetes, disorders that disproportionally affect persons of color who frequently are not included in these studies. The net effect of these examples is a mistrust of the “medical establishment”, therefore, when a lifesaving treatment is developed it is viewed with suspicion and rejected or not embraced by persons of color who certainly have been significantly affected and we all wonder: WHY? We are working to change this and answer this question.

D.R.I.V.E.

D.R.I.V.E. Lymphoma and Myeloma
Investigators Summit
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Maui, Hawaii
Wednesday, July 17, 2024

11:35 am – 12:50 pm Breakout Sessions

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A DRIVE TO ACTION

The 5-Step D.R.I.V.E. action plan to ensure healthcare justice by 2030 through clinical trial equity, diversity, and inclusion.

AGENDA

CO-CHAIRS: Ruemu E. Birhiray, MD, Matthew Lunning, DO, FACP
12:30pm – 1:00pm LUNCHEON
1:00 pm – 1:05 pm INTRODUCTION: Why Are We Here and What Can We All Do Together to Address Clinical Research Disparities in Lymphoma Research – Ruemu E. Birhiray, MD
1:05 pm – 1:20 pm PRESENTATION OF “CONSENSUS STRATEGY FOR IMPROVING ENROLLMENT IN LYMPHOMA
 CLINICAL TRIALS” – Ruemu E. Birhiray, MD, Matthew Lunning, DO, FACP, Andrew Hantel, MD 
1:20 pm – 1:40 pmCONSENSUS STRATEGY: ASCO: What Can We Do Tomorrow?
 Robin Zon, MD, FASCO, ASCO President
 Sybil Green, JD, PharmD, ASCO Vice President for Diversity and Equity
1:40 pm – 1:50 pmCONSENSUS STRATEGY: ASH: What Can We Do Tomorrow? ASH PRESIDENT
1:50 pm – 2:00 pmCONSENSUS STRATEGY: FDA: What Can We Do Tomorrow? – Nicole Gormley, MD
2:00 pm – 2:10 pm CONSENSUS STRATEGY: MEDICAL JOURNAL EDITORS: What Can We Do Tomorrow?
2:10 pm – 2:25 pmOUR NEXT STEPS TOMMOROW – ADOPTING AND IMPLEMENTING THE CONSENSUS STRATEGY – Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD
2:25 pm – 2:50 pm DISCUSSIONS AND ADOPTING THE CONSENSUS STRATERGY 
 FACILATATORS: Ruemu E. Birhiray, MD, Matthew Lunning, DO, FACP, Andrew Hantel, MD, Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD
2:50 pm – 2:55 pmCLOSING – Ruemu E. Birhiray, MD and Matthew Lunning, DO, FACP

D.R.I.V.E.

D:

All clinical trials must include a Diversity Officer who is tasked just like a DSMB in safety to ensure a diversity plan is established, maintained, and modified during the course of each study to meet its accrual goals of inclusion and diversity. 

R:

Create a Ranking System for measuring the relative diversity of enrolled subjects in a clinical trial that are published with each trial. 

I:

Create an Individual/Personal diversity plan to ensure minority patients are enrolled or participating in clinical research.

V: 

Verify and ensure that podium presentations at major conferences are preferentially given to clinical trials meeting diversity goals.

E: 

Elevate, train, and recruit minority investigators to participate in all clinical trials. 

ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Indy Hematology Education, Inc. (IHE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to hematology education. We have hosted and sponsored the annual Indy Hematology Review™ (IHR) symposium since 2003. In our 21st year, many opportunities to support our mission are available. The renowned expert faculty includes global thought leaders in the field of hematology.  Attendance is expected to climb upwards of 300 regional and national physicians, allied health, nurses, and pharmacists.

ABOUT THE EVENT

This is a by-invitation-only exclusive event with as many as 60 invitations being sent. On Friday, February 23, 2024, the event will begin at 7:00 a.m., with a break scheduled at 10 a.m.  A luncheon with breakout sessions is scheduled from 11:30 p.m. -12:45 p.m. The meeting will end with a consensus meeting, concluding at 1:05 p.m. 

IHE Juneteenth Conversation with Dr. Alex Herrera

CEO Dr. Ruemu Birhiray invites Dr. Alex Herrera, Associate Professor of Oncology at City of Hope--Duarte, California for a Juneteenth conversation on minority enrollment in clinical trials and review the recently presented (Plenary Session ASCO 2023) SWOG 1836 Hodgkin's Lymphoma trial with 25% minority enrollment.