David H. Vesole, MD, PhD, FACP, is a board-certified hematology expert for the Multiple Myeloma and Transplant Program at St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center (SVCCC) in New York City. Dr. Vesole specializes in stem cell transplant for the treatment of multiple myeloma and other hematological diseases. Multiple myeloma is an incurable form of cancer that often leaves the body prone to anemia, infections and bone pain.
Dr. Vesole brings more than 20 years of experience to his position at SVCCC. Before coming to St. Vincent's in 2005, he served as clinical director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program and professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
Dr. Vesole holds a medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, a PhD in immunology and microbiology from the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina and a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. He completed his residency at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Dr. Vesole was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, and later completed another fellowship in hematology and oncology from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
He is co-chair of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Myeloma Committee and co-chair of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) Plasma Cell Disorder Committee.
Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Vesole has authored more than 100 articles published in respected medical journals and books. Dr. Vesole also is a reviewer for various journals and publications, including Blood, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Leukemia and Lymphoma. He has presented his research at medical meetings and symposia both nationally and internationally.
Dr. Vesole was honored with the 2005 David Storm Excellence in Leadership Award and the 2004 Distinguished Service Award for Leukemia from the Lymphoma Society.
Q&A with David H. Vesole, MD, PhD, FACP
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- Q: What was it about hematologic cancers, particularly multiple myeloma, that interested you?
A: Initially, my focus was in the area of stem cell transplantation-a relatively new area in the 80s with the goal to cure patients who had either no other treatment options or potential for cure. However, after joining with Drs. Barlogie and Jagannath in Arkansas, it became apparent that cure is not the only goal of treatment: quality of life and improving duration of survival are essential in patients with incurable diseases. Our program in Arkansas was predominantly focused in myeloma but I also cared for patients with other hematologic malignancies including leukemia and lymphoma.
Over the years, I have seen the most promising advances in myeloma-new therapies with better tolerance and doubling of life expectancies. Myeloma remains in the forefront of research in hematologic malignances far surpassing advances made in leukemia and lymphoma. The future in myeloma knows no bounds with a remarkable pipeline of drugs in development. The hope is that we will soon be able to consider myeloma a chronic disease with a multitude of treatment options that can be utilized over many, many years of disease control.
- Q: When you first meet a new patient, how do you determine the best course of treatment?
A: Treatment choices are dependent on a number of factors including patient disease status, patient’s concomitant medical condition(s), age, patient preference, impact of various therapies on patient quality of life, side effects of the various treatments, long-term goal of therapy.
- Q: If you could tell myeloma patients and their families three things about how to best approach this disease, what would you say?
A: Find a center/physician specializing in the care and management of myeloma patients. Seek support through family/friends/support groups. Develop a positive attitude.
