William Dameshek (1900-1969) was an American hematologist. Trained at Harvard, he was the founder of Blood, the prime core clinical journal of hematology, in 1946. He is also credited with describing the concept of myeloproliferative diseases in 1951. In addition, he participated in the first studies of nitrogen mustard in various hematological malignancies, widely considered the first uses of chemotherapy in malignant diseases.

The American Society of Hematology has named the Dameshek Prize in his honor.

Reference

• Goodman LS, Wintrobe MM, Dameshek W, Goodman MJ, Gilman A and McLennan MT. Nitrogen mustard therapy. Use of methyl-bis(beta-chloroethyl)amine hydrochloride and tris(beta-chloroethyl)amine hydrochloride for Hodgkin's disease, lymphosarcoma, leukemia, and certain allied and miscellaneous disorders. J Am Med Assoc 1946;105:475-476. Reprinted in JAMA 1984;251:2255-61. PMID 6368885.

American physicians | Hematologists | 1900 births | 1969 deaths