Morton Coleman

Morton Coleman, MD is the Founding Chair, LL&M Congress. He has been an Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. He was the Director of the Center for Lymphoma and Myeloma, the chairman of the Medical Affiliates Board of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, President of the New York Cancer Society, the chairman of Clinical Research Alliance, among many prestigious appointments. He has served on numerous scientific boards. Dr Coleman has received numerous awards including those from the Cure for Lymphoma Foundation, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, The Waldenstrom's Foundation, Cornell University and Old Dominion University among others. He has authored hundreds of publications primarily in myeloma, lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Among his many seminal observations were the development of the standard of care for Hodgkin disease for over 40 years, the first use of effective novel agents in myeloma, metronomic therapy for hematologic diseases, and the use of combination monoclonal antibody therapy, among others. He founded the Lymphoma, Leukemia, and Myeloma Conference a quarter of a century ago.

Morton Coleman, MD is the Founding Chair, LL&M Congress. He has been an Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. He was the Director of the Center for Lymphoma and Myeloma, the chairman of the Medical Affiliates Board of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, President of the New York Cancer Society, the chairman of Clinical Research Alliance, among many prestigious appointments. He has served on numerous scientific boards. Dr Coleman has received numerous awards including those from the Cure for Lymphoma Foundation, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, The Waldenstrom's Foundation, Cornell University and Old Dominion University among others. He has authored hundreds of publications primarily in myeloma, lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Among his many seminal observations were the development of the standard of care for Hodgkin disease for over 40 years, the first use of effective novel agents in myeloma, metronomic therapy for hematologic diseases, and the use of combination monoclonal antibody therapy, among others. He founded the Lymphoma, Leukemia, and Myeloma Conference a quarter of a century ago.

Gail J.Roboz, MD is Professor of medicine and director of the clinical and translational leukemia programs at Weill Cornell Medicine and the New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York. New York, USA.

Dr. Roboz graduated summa cum laude from Yale University and Alpha Omega Alpha from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where she also achieved the highest academic standing in the graduating class. Dr. Roboz completed internship in Internal Medicine at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and residency at The New York Presbyterian Hospital. She completed fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College and The New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Roboz’s research interests are in developmental therapeutics and novel clinical trial design for acute leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome, and myeloproliferative disorders. She is the principal investigator on numerous investigator-initiated, cooperative group, and industry-sponsored clinical trials in these areas and has authored many related manuscripts and abstracts. Dr. Roboz serves on the Leukemia Core Committee for the Alliance clinical trials in oncology and is the Weill Cornell Principal Investigator for the MDS Clinical Research Consortium. She chairs the clinical committee of the European Leukemia Net (ELN) working group on minimal residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia. She also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation. Dr. Roboz has played an active role as a chair, speaker and panelist at numerous national and international conferences and is the recipient of prestigious honors and awards in the field.

Dr. Yan Leyfman is a hematology-oncology fellow and clinician-investigator whose work bridges cellular immunotherapy, artificial intelligence (AI), and global health equity. Recognized among the "40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders in Cancer" at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting, his research focuses on advancing innovative cancer therapies, integrating AI into precision oncology, and expanding equitable access to cancer care.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Leyfman led the Immunology Division of the Global COVID-19 Taskforce, advancing research on SARS-CoV-2 and the intersection of cancer and COVID-19. His subsequent work has focused on CAR T-cell therapies, immuno-oncology, and AI-driven approaches to cancer care, including a collaboration with investigators at Mount Sinai and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on predicting immunotherapy response, published in Nature Medicine.

His contributions have received international recognition, including the 2023 Phacilitate Advanced Therapies Young Scientist Award, the 2024 Lymphoma, Leukemia & Myeloma Congress Hero in Healthcare Award, the 2023 & 2026 ASCO Breakthrough Conquer Cancer Merit Awards, and the 2025 CSNY Higher Education Trailblazer Award.

As Co-Founder and Executive Director of MedNews Week, Dr. Leyfman leads a global medical education platform reaching more than 150 countries. Through research, education, and mentorship, he is committed to combating medical misinformation, reducing healthcare disparities, and translating scientific innovation into more accessible and equitable cancer care worldwide.

Gail J.Roboz, MD is Professor of medicine and director of the clinical and translational leukemia programs at Weill Cornell Medicine and the New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York. New York, USA.

Dr. Roboz graduated summa cum laude from Yale University and Alpha Omega Alpha from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where she also achieved the highest academic standing in the graduating class. Dr. Roboz completed internship in Internal Medicine at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and residency at The New York Presbyterian Hospital. She completed fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College and The New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Roboz’s research interests are in developmental therapeutics and novel clinical trial design for acute leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome, and myeloproliferative disorders. She is the principal investigator on numerous investigator-initiated, cooperative group, and industry-sponsored clinical trials in these areas and has authored many related manuscripts and abstracts. Dr. Roboz serves on the Leukemia Core Committee for the Alliance clinical trials in oncology and is the Weill Cornell Principal Investigator for the MDS Clinical Research Consortium. She chairs the clinical committee of the European Leukemia Net (ELN) working group on minimal residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia. She also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation. Dr. Roboz has played an active role as a chair, speaker and panelist at numerous national and international conferences and is the recipient of prestigious honors and awards in the field.

Morton Coleman, MD is the Founding Chair, LL&M Congress. He has been an Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. He was the Director of the Center for Lymphoma and Myeloma, the chairman of the Medical Affiliates Board of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, President of the New York Cancer Society, the chairman of Clinical Research Alliance, among many prestigious appointments. He has served on numerous scientific boards. Dr Coleman has received numerous awards including those from the Cure for Lymphoma Foundation, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, The Waldenstrom's Foundation, Cornell University and Old Dominion University among others. He has authored hundreds of publications primarily in myeloma, lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Among his many seminal observations were the development of the standard of care for Hodgkin disease for over 40 years, the first use of effective novel agents in myeloma, metronomic therapy for hematologic diseases, and the use of combination monoclonal antibody therapy, among others. He founded the Lymphoma, Leukemia, and Myeloma Conference a quarter of a century ago.

Morton Coleman, MD is the Founding Chair, LL&M Congress. He has been an Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. He was the Director of the Center for Lymphoma and Myeloma, the chairman of the Medical Affiliates Board of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, President of the New York Cancer Society, the chairman of Clinical Research Alliance, among many prestigious appointments. He has served on numerous scientific boards. Dr Coleman has received numerous awards including those from the Cure for Lymphoma Foundation, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, The Waldenstrom's Foundation, Cornell University and Old Dominion University among others. He has authored hundreds of publications primarily in myeloma, lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Among his many seminal observations were the development of the standard of care for Hodgkin disease for over 40 years, the first use of effective novel agents in myeloma, metronomic therapy for hematologic diseases, and the use of combination monoclonal antibody therapy, among others. He founded the Lymphoma, Leukemia, and Myeloma Conference a quarter of a century ago.

John P. Leonard, M.D., is the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Chief of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology and Director, Center for Blood Cancers at Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health and NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
An expert in hematology and oncology, Dr. Leonard is Chair of the Lymphoma Committee of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (formerly CALGB, ACOSOG and NCCTG), a multicenter cooperative group and key component of the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network. Dr. Leonard has been an elected member of the American Board of Internal Medicine Hematology subspecialty board, and he has also been elected to membership in the American Society of Clinical Investigation. He has served as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board and Board Member of the Lymphoma Research Foundation and Board Member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society/New York City Chapter.
Dr. Leonard performed his undergraduate work at Johns Hopkins University and received his medical degree at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. He completed his residency in medicine at the New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. He completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Cornell, and served as the chief medical resident at the New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center.

Morton Coleman, MD is the Founding Chair, LL&M Congress. He has been an Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. He was the Director of the Center for Lymphoma and Myeloma, the chairman of the Medical Affiliates Board of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, President of the New York Cancer Society, the chairman of Clinical Research Alliance, among many prestigious appointments. He has served on numerous scientific boards. Dr Coleman has received numerous awards including those from the Cure for Lymphoma Foundation, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, The Waldenstrom's Foundation, Cornell University and Old Dominion University among others. He has authored hundreds of publications primarily in myeloma, lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Among his many seminal observations were the development of the standard of care for Hodgkin disease for over 40 years, the first use of effective novel agents in myeloma, metronomic therapy for hematologic diseases, and the use of combination monoclonal antibody therapy, among others. He founded the Lymphoma, Leukemia, and Myeloma Conference a quarter of a century ago.

John P. Leonard, M.D., is the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Chief of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology and Director, Center for Blood Cancers at Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health and NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
An expert in hematology and oncology, Dr. Leonard is Chair of the Lymphoma Committee of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (formerly CALGB, ACOSOG and NCCTG), a multicenter cooperative group and key component of the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network. Dr. Leonard has been an elected member of the American Board of Internal Medicine Hematology subspecialty board, and he has also been elected to membership in the American Society of Clinical Investigation. He has served as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board and Board Member of the Lymphoma Research Foundation and Board Member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society/New York City Chapter.
Dr. Leonard performed his undergraduate work at Johns Hopkins University and received his medical degree at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. He completed his residency in medicine at the New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. He completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Cornell, and served as the chief medical resident at the New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center.

Dr. Thomas Witzig earned a B.S. in Biology from Illinois State University and an M.D. from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Iowa, followed by a hematology/oncology fellowship at Mayo Clinic, where he also conducted laboratory research in multiple myeloma and lymphoma under Drs. Philip Greipp and Robert A. Kyle. He joined the Mayo Clinic staff in 1986.

Dr. Witzig’s clinical and research interests focus on blood cancers and the biological mechanisms underlying COVID-19. His current work investigates therapies targeting DNA damage repair and signal transduction pathways in lymphoma. He has played a leading role in the development of radioimmunotherapy, mTOR inhibitors, and immunomodulatory agents such as lenalidomide. His research group was the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of rituximab for IgG4-related autoimmune diseases affecting organs including the orbit and pancreas. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his laboratory identified a mechanism contributing to severe infection that is now being investigated in patients with Long COVID. His research has been supported by the National Cancer Institute, the Predolin Foundation, and other organizations.

Dr. Witzig has received numerous honors, including the Department of Medicine Outstanding Investigator Award, the Henry S. Plummer Distinguished Physician Award, and the Barbara Woodward Lips Professorship.

An accomplished educator and mentor, Dr. Witzig has delivered invited lectures at regional, national, and international meetings. He has authored or co-authored more than 500 publications—including peer-reviewed articles, books, book chapters, and letters—and more than 600 scientific abstracts.

Morton Coleman, MD is the Founding Chair, LL&M Congress. He has been an Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. He was the Director of the Center for Lymphoma and Myeloma, the chairman of the Medical Affiliates Board of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, President of the New York Cancer Society, the chairman of Clinical Research Alliance, among many prestigious appointments. He has served on numerous scientific boards. Dr Coleman has received numerous awards including those from the Cure for Lymphoma Foundation, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, The Waldenstrom's Foundation, Cornell University and Old Dominion University among others. He has authored hundreds of publications primarily in myeloma, lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Among his many seminal observations were the development of the standard of care for Hodgkin disease for over 40 years, the first use of effective novel agents in myeloma, metronomic therapy for hematologic diseases, and the use of combination monoclonal antibody therapy, among others. He founded the Lymphoma, Leukemia, and Myeloma Conference a quarter of a century ago.

Ruben Niesvizky, MD is Director of the Multiple Myeloma Center and Director of Oncology Operations at Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Niesvizky received his medical degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a research fellowship in cell biology/granulomonopoiesis at the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition in Mexico City. Dr. Niesvizky served as Chief Fellow during his training as a clinical hematology fellow at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York. He trained as a hematology/oncology fellow at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, where he was assistant attending physician for 6 years. Dr. Niesvizky is fluent in Spanish, Hebrew and English.

Dr. Niesvizky’s work has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Blood, JCO, Leukemia and Lymphoma, and Seminars in Oncology. He was the director of the clinical core of the Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society granted in 2000. He is the recipient of various grants and awards from the National Cancer Institute; a K23 award and 3 translational research grants for the development of new drugs. Dr Niesvizky regularly presents at annual meetings such as ASH and ASCO, of which he is also a member. He is an active participant in clinical trials of promising new drugs and medical procedures for the treatment of myeloma, lymphoma, and related hematologic disorders.

David S. Siegel, MD, PhD, is one of the nation’s foremost authorities on multiple myeloma (a blood cancer). His research has almost exclusively focused on multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, and AL amyloidosis, and has been published in many leading medical journals, including Nature, New England Journal of Medicine, Blood, and Journal of Clinical Oncology.
He served as the lead investigator of the pivotal phase IIb study involving 30 cancer centers in North America that led to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s fast-track approval of Kyprolis (carfilzomib) for recurrent multiple myeloma. Dr. Siegel is one of 11 investigators nationwide who brought Velcade (bortezomib) to multiple myeloma patients through his clinical trials showing that this medication slows and halts the progression of multiple myeloma. He has also been involved in clinical trials that led to the approval of Thalomid (thalidomide), Revlimid (lenalidomide), Pomalyst (pomalidomide), Ninlaro (Ixazomib), Empliciti (elotuzumab), and Farydak (panobinostat).
Dr. Siegel is founding Director of the Multiple Myeloma Institute. He and his team collaborate with other scientists and clinical researchers to pioneer critical therapies to treat patients with multiple myeloma. Dr. Siegel has also led John Theurer Cancer Center’s development of a program to offer CAR T-cell therapy to patients with multiple myeloma. With this immunotherapy, T cells are removed from the patient, genetically modified, multiplied, and returned to the patient to find and kill myeloma cells.

Morton Coleman, MD is the Founding Chair, LL&M Congress. He has been an Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. He was the Director of the Center for Lymphoma and Myeloma, the chairman of the Medical Affiliates Board of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, President of the New York Cancer Society, the chairman of Clinical Research Alliance, among many prestigious appointments. He has served on numerous scientific boards. Dr Coleman has received numerous awards including those from the Cure for Lymphoma Foundation, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, The Waldenstrom's Foundation, Cornell University and Old Dominion University among others. He has authored hundreds of publications primarily in myeloma, lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Among his many seminal observations were the development of the standard of care for Hodgkin disease for over 40 years, the first use of effective novel agents in myeloma, metronomic therapy for hematologic diseases, and the use of combination monoclonal antibody therapy, among others. He founded the Lymphoma, Leukemia, and Myeloma Conference a quarter of a century ago.

Ruben Niesvizky, MD is Director of the Multiple Myeloma Center and Director of Oncology Operations at Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Niesvizky received his medical degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a research fellowship in cell biology/granulomonopoiesis at the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition in Mexico City. Dr. Niesvizky served as Chief Fellow during his training as a clinical hematology fellow at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York. He trained as a hematology/oncology fellow at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, where he was assistant attending physician for 6 years. Dr. Niesvizky is fluent in Spanish, Hebrew and English.

Dr. Niesvizky’s work has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Blood, JCO, Leukemia and Lymphoma, and Seminars in Oncology. He was the director of the clinical core of the Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society granted in 2000. He is the recipient of various grants and awards from the National Cancer Institute; a K23 award and 3 translational research grants for the development of new drugs. Dr Niesvizky regularly presents at annual meetings such as ASH and ASCO, of which he is also a member. He is an active participant in clinical trials of promising new drugs and medical procedures for the treatment of myeloma, lymphoma, and related hematologic disorders.

Dr. María-Victoria Mateos, MD, PhD, is Head of Myeloma and clinical trials Unit at the Haematology Department and Professor of Medicine at the University of Salamanca, Spain. She serves as President of GEM (Spanish Myeloma Group), with direct involvement in the design and development of clinical trials. She has coordinated many clinical trials especially in the setting of transplant ineligible and smoldering myeloma and these trials have profoundly influenced current options for the management of these patient populations. She has published over 500 papers in international journals with a H index of 102. She is also a member of the IMWG (International MM Working Group), IMS (International MM Society), EHA and ASH. She has been Councillor on the EHA Board between 2015-2019 and she is now a member of the IMS executive board. She received the Brian Durie Award in 2019, the Bart Barlogie Clinical Investigator Award in 2022 recognizing excellence in myeloma research, the Kyle life time achievement award in 2023 and the Waldenström Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. She is the President of the National Society of Hematology since October 2022 for a four-year mandate.