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Every two years, Dr. Steven Treon and Chris Patterson of the Bing Center for WM at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute organize an International Workshop on Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (IWMM). These Workshops are the most comprehensive global events on WM research.

The 10th Workshop was held in New York City from October 11-13, 2018. Over 300 of the leading clinicians and researchers in WM attended this important meeting that reviews the current status of WM research and helps identify future directions.

At the closing ceremony held at the United Nations, the first Peter S. Bing Humanitarian Awards were presented. Peter S. Bing, MD, is a nationally renowned philanthropist who has devoted his life to improving the lives of others. He also has WM.

IWMF President Carl Harrington received an inaugural Peter S. Bing Humanitarian Award for his work on behalf of WM patients. In his comments upon accepting the award, Carl said:

“When I was diagnosed with WM in 2006, I never expected to be alive in 2018, let alone become President of the IWMF, and be worthy of an award such as this. But I’m very, very happy to be here, among this group of big-hearted geniuses who are making the world a better, safer place for WMers.”

He went on to say: “It is a great honor to accept this award, even more so because it carries the name of Peter Bing. When Steve Treon called me about this award, he described the first visit Dr. Bing made to Dana-Farber. Now, as I think you know, Dr. Bing is a WM patient himself. At the time of his first visit, he was still on watch and wait. After Dr. Bing’s exam, Dr. Treon took him on a tour of the facilities, including the small research lab. At the end of the tour, Dr. Bing wrote Steve a generous check and made a very simple request: ‘Do good work with this and help others with WM.’

“Do good work and help others with WM.” That sounds a lot like the IWMF vision of supporting everyone affected by WM while we advance the search for a cure.

“Dr. Bing, your support for Dr. Treon and the incredible team he has built at Dana-Farber has indeed helped many, many other WMers. WMers are now living longer lives with deeper, longer-lasting remissions and with fewer side effects.

“At the IWMF, we’ll continue to follow your lead and do good work and help other WMers. Thank you on behalf of WMers everywhere.”

Additional recipients of the Peter S. Bing Humanitarian Awards were:

• Chris Patterson, Administrative Director of the Bing Center for WM, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Dr. Morton Coleman, Professor of Medicine, Cornell University
• Dr. Ranjana Advani, Professor of Lymphoma, Stanford University