I have just returned from the 50th EBMT Annual Meeting in Glasgow, and I am still riding the excitement. As someone who fell in love with hematology and bone marrow transplantation back in medical school, being part of this meeting felt like a dream I did not want to wake up from.
I had the privilege of having two oral presentations at the meeting. The first was “Impact of ABO Compatibility on Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Outcomes: A Contemporary and Comprehensive Study from the Transplant Complications Working Party,” and the second was “Ruxolitinib in the Management of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia.” Standing on that stage, in front of the very people whose papers I had been reading for years, was both terrifying and exhilarating.
And then something happened that I still can hardly believe: my first presentation was awarded the Best Young Oral Presentation among many other talented young physicians. I am deeply grateful to the EBMT, to the Transplant Complications Working Party, and above all to my mentors, whose support and belief made this possible.
But if you asked me what I will remember most from EBMT 2024 for years, it would not be the presentations or the certificate. It would be the people. One of the greatest parts of this meeting was getting to know and befriend so many bright, warm, and generous colleagues from all over the world. The EBMT Trainee community especially made me feel at home. We shared ideas, meals, laughs, and that particular kind of excitement that only people chasing the same questions can understand. I left Glasgow with new friends and, I hope, lifelong collaborators.
Now it is time to return, learn more, and work harder. Until #EBMT25.
