Global Health Research: Role of Specialty Care

Hematology/oncology is a discipline that includes the study and treatment of diseases of the blood and tumors (benign and malignant) affecting the blood and body tissues. Because the diagnosis of blood diseases and cancer requires microscopic examination, traditionally, the specialty evolved as a part of the pathology discipline. As knowledge progressed, it became evident that many blood diseases and cancer have biochemical/ molecular underpinnings, and hematology/oncology came to be recognized as a laboratory medicine specialty. Herein lies the complexity of learning the biology of diseases included, as well in developing the strategies for management of each of the disorders encountered. In this chapter, a personal account augments the description of the status of chronic diseases represented in hematology/oncology in high-, medium-, and low-income countries. This approach allows for exploration of the essential elements of learning the diseases included. Also described are lessons learned of the strategies used in developing the resources needed to set up a high-level hematology/oncology program anywhere in the world. Many of the principles discussed apply to other specialty disease groups, notably immunology/rheumatoid diseases; inborn errors of metabolism, growth, and development; and congenital/ inherited disorders affecting virtually every organ in the body.