Dr Melody on the Influence of Female Mentorship on Her Research Career in Hematologic Oncology

"I have seen my female colleagues struggle with [obtaining the] same [opportunities as I have]. The only thing I can do moving forward is pay it forward for the future generation of female positions and make sure I leave the door open behind me."

Megan Melody, MD, a hematologist/oncologist at Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and TGH Cancer Center, reflects on the significance of International Women’s Day for women in oncology and shares how mentorship and female representation have influenced her research career in hematologic oncology.

Melody begins by sharing that, over the past year, her research [with CAR T-cell therapy] was accepted for oral presentation at the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting, and an additional abstract she was invovled in was accepted for an oral presentation at the 2025 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings.

Notably, both meetings featured a strong presence of young investigators, with many junior faculty members presenting their research, Melody details. At the conclusion of both CAR T-cell therapy sessions, group photos were taken, and in both instances, most of the researchers were women, Melody adds. This highlighted the growing representation of women in the field and the increasing encouragement for female investigators to pursue research in hematology and cellular therapy, she emphasizes.

Melody cites female mentorship as a critical factor in her career development. Under the guidance of Jane N. Winter, MD, of Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, Melody successfully wrote her first investigator-initiated trial and advanced the project from concept to execution. Additionally, Reem Karmali, MD, a leader in multi-institutional collaboration, established a consortium focused on CAR T-cell therapy outcomes, which has provided further opportunities for Melody’s research. Her investigator-initiated trial, which examines outcomes post–CAR T-cell therapy in hematologic malignancies, is now launching at TGH Cancer Center, the newest member of the 15-institution consortium led by Northwestern.

Although Melody has not personally encountered barriers to research opportunities and notes that her mentors—both male and female—have consistently provided her with support, she recognizes that many female colleagues have faced challenges in accessing similar opportunities. Moving forward, she remains committed to fostering an inclusive research environment by mentoring and advocating for the next generation of female physician-scientists, ensuring that opportunities remain accessible for those who follow.