For more than 20 years, Mikkael A. Sekeres, M.D., M.S., chief of the Division of Hematology, has been treating patients with leukemia and other blood cancers. He helps guide people who have received one of the most devastating diagnoses imaginable and does everything he can to help them understand their disease and hopefully overcome it.

“I’m in this remarkably privileged position to meet people from all walks of life at a critical point in their life, when they have to make decisions no person should ever have to make,” said Dr. Sekeres. “My job is to give hope, but not false hope, and to educate and reassure patients that my team and I are going to walk with them on this journey, wherever it leads.”

Dr. Sekeres is the consummate investigator and educator. In addition to publishing in a variety of medical journals, he has shared his work in The New York Times, Huffington Post and Salon.com, as well as speaking at conferences and appearing on several podcasts.

In August 2021, Dr. Sekeres published a book on his experiences treating blood cancer patients, When Blood Breaks Down: Life Lessons From Leukemia.

“It is a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to care for somebody with leukemia and to have leukemia,” said Dr. Sekeres. “I wanted to humanize the experience, demystify it and provide examples of how people can be role models in how they live their lives.” The book has been well reviewed, and Dr. Sekeres recently read excerpts at the Miami Book Fair.