A hematology-related book suggestion, with some context. Back in 2014, I heard #LawrenceHill speaking on the radio one morning on my way to clinic, about his @CBC #MasseyLectures @UofT on blood's rich symbolism. Mr. Hill grew up as the child of "mixed race" parents in Toronto./1 
His parents met in Washington, DC, and moved to Canada in 1955 because at the time it was illegal for them to be married in the Commonwealth of Virginia - prior to the Supreme Court decision on Loving v Virginia in 1967 (real couple below R), the topic of 2016's @lovingthefilm./2
I was Education Program co-chair in 2015 for the @ASH_hematology annual meeting, and I thought: wouldn't it be great if the meeting included a "humanities" talk, by someone like Mr. Hill? So I proposed that to the Executive Committee & they were excited./3 ashondemand.org/Session/107191…
They invited Mr. Hill to #ASH15, and really did it right: linked the event to celebration of @BloodJournal 70th anniversary, with intros by then-Editor Bob Löwenberg & Marc Kahn of Tulane (now Dean @UNLVmedicine) who had consulted on @PBS "Red Gold: The Epic Story of Blood"./4
Since then, a "humanities lecture" has become a regular tradition at the @ASH_hematology meeting. For example, @AmyHermanAOP gave a terrific talk on "The Art of Perception" in 2017, teaching attendees how to sharpen observation skills. I don't know what is in store for #ASH20!/5
Back at #ASH15, Mr. Hill said, "Blood runs red through all of us and carries the same life-giving energy to every human being. We've learned a lot about the science of blood, but it is as complex and mysterious as ever.../6
"Culturally, blood has a mystique all its own, and what it stands for - tribe, family, race, gender - has divided us since the beginning of time. Blood pulses through our religions, through literature and the visual arts." (Some other recent relevant books depicted below.)/7
"Every time blood pools or spills, we learn a little more about what brings human beings together and what divides us."
One of the most moving episodes described in Hill's book involves transfusions he received while critically ill from malaria during a #Mali trip in 1989./8
One of the most moving episodes described in Hill's book involves transfusions he received while critically ill from malaria during a #Mali trip in 1989./8
He'd grown up in Canada where his identity was shaped by his perception of "blood" in terms of race. But as he lay critically ill, he realized he didn't care a whit what the race or skin color of his blood donor was - black, white, something else - the gift would gave him life./9
Canadian journalist @donnabnurse interviewed Mr. Hill about the book for @Hazlitt, and I'll link to her essay below. "Blood: The Stuff of Life" is more about the history & social meaning of blood than science; it is a worthwhile read for our times./10End
hazlitt.net/feature/what-r…
hazlitt.net/feature/what-r…
