It has taken me some time to find the words to fully process this moment—and perhaps even longer to appreciate its magnitude. For more than a decade, since my earliest days of medical school, I have attended the Lymphoma, Leukemia & Myeloma Congress, sitting in the audience, learning from the giants of our field, and wondering whether one day I might contribute something meaningful to the science they helped pioneer. This week, I had the extraordinary honor of standing on that very stage and accepting the Best Abstract in Leukemia Award on behalf of our MedNews Week research team. To share that moment with Dr. Morton Coleman and Dr. Gail Roboz was profoundly humbling. Dr. Coleman has been a role model since I first met him—a visionary, pioneer, and extraordinary human being whose contributions have helped shape modern lymphoma care. Dr. Roboz embodies the very best of academic medicine: scientific brilliance, relentless innovation, genuine warmth, and an unwavering commitment to the next generation. Both remind us that true greatness is measured not only by the discoveries we make, but by the people we inspire and the opportunities we create for others. For me, this moment was deeply personal. I am a child of Chernobyl. A child who was once not expected to survive. A child whose journey began with the uncertainty of whether there would even be a tomorrow. To go from receiving palliative care as a child to standing alongside individuals I have admired for so much of my life is something I will never take for granted. Life has an extraordinary way of bringing us full circle. Yet, I do not see this recognition as an arrival. I see it as a responsibility—to keep asking difficult questions, to challenge conventional thinking, to advance science, and above all, to help open doors for those who will follow. This recognition belongs to an extraordinary team. To Diksha & Noam, thank you for leading this study with dedication, perseverance, and conviction. To every member of our MedNews Week research family, thank you for the countless hours, sacrifices, and belief in what we are building together. You are not simply the future of medicine—you are already helping shape it. My deepest gratitude to Dr. Arturo Loaiza-Bonilla, whose mentorship, generosity, and unwavering belief in our team continue to create opportunities that many young investigators could only dream of. Thank you for investing in us and reminding us what meaningful mentorship looks like. To Drs. Yazan Migdady, Chandler Park, and Muhammad Salman Faisal, thank you for your invaluable scientific insight and guidance. To our collaborators and partners, including the GELL team, thank you for helping make this work possible. And to the leadership and organizers of the Lymphoma, Leukemia & Myeloma Congress, thank you for creating a platform where emerging investigators can stand alongside the pioneers of our field, share their discoveries, and feel that their voices matter. I am especially mindful of the remarkable scientists and leaders who have received this recognition before us, and the extraordinary contributions they have gone on to make. It is both an honor and a reminder of how much work remains ahead. Awards may recognize a moment. Mentorship shapes a lifetime. And our greatest legacy will always be the people we lift along the way. I came to this Congress years ago hoping to learn from the people who were changing medicine. I leave this year more determined than ever to help build a future in which others have the same opportunity. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. ❤️ #llm2026 #llm26 #AI