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ASPHO Statements and Press Releases

Read ASPHO’s positions on various issues as approved by our Board of Trustees and intended to raise awareness and express the views of the Society. ASPHO also publishes periodic press releases to inform membership and partners of Society news and announcements.

A Measured Approach to Fellowship Training Model Transition in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

July 2026

Pediatric hematology/oncology has long relied on the integration of rigorous clinical training, scholarship, and meaningful exposure to research to advance care and improve outcomes for children with cancer and blood disorders. As the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) moves toward a competency-based medical education (CBME) model—with potential options for both a two-year clinically oriented pathway and a three-year scholarship-oriented pathway—the field is aligned on the need to evolve. The question is how to do so responsibly.

Following deliberate engagement with pediatric hematology/oncology (PHO) fellowship program directors, division leaders, and the broader community, the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) Board of Trustees recommends that all PHO fellowship programs delay implementation of a two-year clinically-oriented pathway and maintain the current three-year scholarship-oriented model until sufficient data are available to assess impact, no earlier than 2030.

The community recognizes the intent behind CBME and acknowledges that a clinically focused pathway may offer value if implemented thoughtfully. However, key infrastructure needed to implement this model is not yet in place. Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), which are foundational to assessing readiness for independent practice, have not yet been finalized for pediatric subspecialties, nor have they been broadly integrated into fellowship programs; additional time is needed to finalize, implement, and evaluate their use consistently across training environments. Without a reliable, consistent framework for evaluating competence, it is difficult to make high-stakes decisions related to board eligibility and unsupervised care. Key operational aspects—such as alignment with undecided ACGME requirements, clarity in recruitment and Match processes, and expectations for scholarly activity, also remain undefined.

Feedback from the training community reinforces this concern. In ASPHO’s Training Model Transition Survey, 77% of fellowship programs indicated that a transition by 2028 is too early, and only 16% reported being mostly or fully prepared to implement EPA-based assessment infrastructure. Forty percent (40%) of programs see value in a shorter, clinically focused pathway, and 60% expressed concern about whether a two-year model would adequately prepare trainees for the academic and research-oriented careers that remain central to the mission of the field.

From the perspective of ASPHO leadership, these gaps are not simply operational, they have direct implications for patient safety. Determining readiness for independent practice is a high-stakes decision, and any transition must ensure that graduates are consistently and appropriately prepared to deliver care without supervision.

Maintaining the three-year pathway during this transition period allows time to build infrastructure, collect baseline data, and evaluate outcomes. This approach positions the field to move forward deliberately, ensuring that changes strengthen training while preserving the standards of scholarship that define pediatric hematology/oncology.

Looking ahead, ASPHO will continue to engage the community, foster meaningful conversations and action, and help develop resources that support the subspecialty, future subspecialists, fellowship programs, and program and institutional leaders. Through these efforts, ASPHO aims to help ensure optimal training experiences and strengthen the future of pediatric hematology/oncology.

ASPHO’s Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson.

August 2022

ASPHO is committed to the integrity of the physician-patient relationship and providing care guided by equitable and evidence-based clinical medicine. The recent Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization undermines these principles and puts patients of childbearing age with cancers and blood disorders at greater risk by limiting the ability of our constituents to provide medically appropriate, patient-centered, and high-quality health care, including the right to a safe abortion. This decision also expands health inequities by limiting access to the healthcare system, especially for individuals and families who are already underserved.

ASPHO’s mission is to support and empower the pediatric hematology and oncology medical and scientific community and values compassion and health equity. Therefore, we will continue to advocate for the practice of evidence-based care and the protection of the physician-patient relationship.

ASPHO Condemns Racism, Supports Equity in Care for All

July 2020

As the nation confronts racism and a pandemic exposing staggering socioeconomic disparities, the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) affirms its unwavering belief in equity for all and condemns discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation. As healthcare providers, we are compelled to speak out against hatred and any resulting treatment that leads to disparities. Our mission of promoting optimal care for children, adolescents, and young adults managing blood disorders and cancer is built on the fundamental value that individuals of all backgrounds deserve the best health outcomes and life experiences. ASPHO leadership, its members and staff stand together: we value and encourage diverse and inclusive participation within pediatric hematology/oncology and pledge to continue advocating for access and quality care to provide the best possible future for all children.

ASPHO Press Releases

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