White Coats: Ruchika Goel on Leveraging Data-Driven Insights Across Health Care

“White Coats” is an AABB News series that interviews the experts that are transforming the fields of transfusion medicine and biotherapies. Join AABB today to read the rest of this month’s issue.

Ruchika Goel, MD, MPH, CABP, is the senior medical director, corporate medical affairs, at Vitalant National Office. She also serves as a professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and as an adjunct faculty in the Department of Pathology, Division Of Transfusion Medicine, at Johns Hopkins University.

Goel completed her hematology/oncology fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University/National Cancer Institute combined program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and her transfusion medicine fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell and New York Blood Center.

Goel serves a dual role as a practicing hematologist/ oncologist with a focus on benign and malignant hematology and a transfusion medicine physician and is actively engaged in research in big data and novel computational methods in hematology and transfusion medicine with a special interest in hemostasis and thrombosis. She also serves as an invited consultant and subject matter expert for the NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) funded REDS-IV-P longitudinal studies.

Goel has multiple accolades to her name, including an AABB Fenwal Future Leader Transfusion Medicine Scholarship Award, Paul J. Stranjford Young Investigator Award from the American College of Laboratory Physician and Scientists, BEST Collaborative Scott Murphy Lectureship, 40 Under 40 Award for Exemplary Clinical Service, the International Society of Blood Transfusion Harold Gunsen Fellowship, and the Australian and New Zealand Blood Transfusion Society Presidential Award.

What drew you to hematology/oncology, and transfusion medicine?

As a medical student, I had always marveled at red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, their independent functioning as well as the complex and myriad interplay at the microscopic level. I was drawn to hematological disorders, captivated by their diagnostic intricacies akin to an investigative puzzle. My forays into hematology during my hematology/ oncology fellowship really led me to the incredible and fascinating world of transfusion medicine and blood banking! Transfusion medicine offered the perfect integration of my

love of hematology, unique and exciting opportunities of patient care and a deep desire to contribute with meaningful research and advance science. The modern day ‘blood banker’ is at the forefront of “therapeutic pathology” as well as “hematology” and “biotherapies” and truly exemplifies the application of laboratory-based medical knowledge and expertise to both diagnostic and therapeutic roles. Additionally, the practice of transfusion medicine is immensely multi-disciplinary as patients receiving transfusions and cellular therapies are diverse and treated by a wide range of physicians in neonatology, pediatrics, internal medicine, hematology/oncology, cardiology, anesthesiology, surgery, critical care and emergency medicine physicians, among others.

How has your early research shaped your career?

Throughout the past nearly 10 years, I have been applying my training in epidemiology, biostatistics and clinical research to carve a niche in “novel data sciences and big data applications” to address various research questions. In partnership with my excellent research group at Johns Hopkins, and now initiating the same at Vitalant, we have published a series of manuscripts throughout the years assessing national transfusion trends, predictors of transfusions in adults and children, and are exploring newer associations, such as transfusions and thrombosis.

“Big data” via the process of curation and analysis of complex multidimensional data sets can be hugely transformative in blood banking and transfusion medicine using ‘predictive models’ stemming from an individual patient and going on to large populations and improving donor and recipient outcomes. I have also been developing an ongoing expertise in novel computational methods and data sciences like predictive modeling and machine learning, an algorithmic approach within artificial intelligence (AI). I have also tried to integrate my background as a practicing haematologist with my transfusion research.

What are the most gratifying moments in your career on a day-to-day basis?

My combined role as a hematologist/oncologist, caring for some of the most critically ill patients in the hospital while also serving as a blood banking professional, presents daily challenges yet yields profound rewards and great personal fulfillment. I have received many awards for academic work but being recognized with the “40 under 40 Award for Service to Community” at a critical time remains a treasured personal milestone in my career.

Recently, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have a national leadership role as senior medical director at Vitalant in Corporate Medical Affairs. It is my honor to be a part of this great organization with an opportunity to work with incredible mentors like Mary Townsend and Ralph Vassallo. But, above all of these, returning home to my loving family at the end of a demanding day balancing teaching, clinical duties and research is the most gratifying daily reward.

Based on your research, how can new developments in pathology informatics and computational techniques drive innovation in the field?

New developments in pathology informatics and computational techniques are poised to revolutionize clinical transfusion medicine practice by enhancing data management, decision support and personalized medicine approaches. Pathology informatics enables efficient integration of diverse data sources, improving the understanding of patient health and facilitating precise blood product matching. AI-based computational techniques, like machine learning, enhance predictive capabilities for patient outcomes and optimize transfusion safety by identifying potential risks and clinical outcomes. These advancements also support real-time monitoring of transfusion practices, ensuring quality assurance and prompt intervention when needed.

Ultimately, these innovations promise to improve patient care by leveraging data-driven insights and streamlining transfusion processes across health care settings. This is absolutely an exciting space to watch!

Who have been the most influential people in your career?

I have been incredibly fortunate to thrive in an environment that fosters scholarly pursuits and benefits from enthusiastic mentorship, enabling me to pursue both my academic and professional ambitions. I have had the privilege to collaborate with and learn from some of the world's foremost experts. During my hematology oncology training at Johns Hopkins, I was guided by stalwarts such as Paul Ness and the late Karen King, whose insightful vision and close mentorship introduced me to the dynamic field of blood banking and transfusion medicine. Throughout the past decade, I have had the invaluable opportunity to conduct dedicated research under the astute guidance of my primary mentor at Johns Hopkins, Aaron Tobian, a leading authority in transfusion medicine and the current president of AABB. Our collaborative efforts on significant big data initiatives have resulted in numerous publications in prestigious journals like JAMA, JAMA Surgery, Blood, Lancet Americas, Transfusion and Vox Sanguinis.

My passion for pediatrics and neonatal transfusion has been profoundly influenced by Cassandra Josephson, a globally renowned pediatric transfusion expert and chair of the REDS-IV-P program. Josephson has been an exceptional mentor for me, offering invaluable support in navigating multiple professional and personal life challenges over the years. Our early morning discussions, often starting between 4-5 a.m., are filled with energy and overflowing with innovative ideas! We are both very early morning people.

Looking ahead, what technological advancements do you hope to see in transfusion medicine/ blood banking?

Our field is highly dynamic. In the future of transfusion medicine and blood banking, advancements like synthetic blood substitutes and artificial blood, biotechnological innovations for universal donor cells advanced blood typing and compatibility testing and pathogen inactivation methods could enhance safety and accessibility of blood products.

Data driven personalized transfusions tailored to individual needs, real-time monitoring of blood inventory, demand forecasting and inventory and distribution systems are also promising potential developments. Artificial intelligence and advanced computational methods can play a positively disruptive and revolutionary role in all of these. There is also a need for better end user clinician education to optimize transfusion practices globally.

What is a professional goal of yours that nobody knows about?

I am deeply cognizant of how much strong mentorship has furthered my career and professional life.

I thus aspire to establish a distinctive mentoring and educational framework tailored for aspiring trainees in hematology, transfusion medicine and biotherapies, ensuring that each passionate individual can find a match with suitable mentors. This initiative entails dismantling many existing silos, recognizing that true mentorship extends far beyond specific projects, publications or funding opportunities. It transcends hierarchical distinctions, and institutional confines, fostering enduring professional and personal growth.

Do you have any advice for the next generation of leaders in the field?

This is such a thrilling era in transfusion medicine and biotherapies! It heralds a new chapter with immense potential for these innovative therapies to positively revolutionize our field and significantly impact our patients and community.

As you embark on your journey in transfusion medicine, embrace curiosity and a passion for learning. Stay abreast of advancements in technology and research, as they continually shape our understanding and practices. Cultivate strong collaborative skills, as teamwork is crucial in this field where patient care is paramount.

As you advance in your career, remember to have a lot of fun, savor the memories and foster meaningful friendships. These connections that you cultivate will become the invaluable wealth of your professional journey, far exceeding any accolades on your resume. Embrace and treasure these experiences to their fullest extent.