The Haematopathology Hub provides a unique, collaborative space for members working within this subspecialty. Haematopathologists who are College members can use the Hub to share knowledge and best practice, access curated events and resources, and strengthen professional networks.

To introduce the Haematopathology Hub, we spoke with Dr Hebah Ali, Consultant Haematopathologist and key advocate behind the Hub’s development. We also spoke to Stephen Rainbird, Member Engagement and Support Manager at the College, whose team is leading the wider rollout of online communities.

Together, they share the inspiration behind the Hub, what members can expect, and the College's ambition to use online communities to foster greater connection, support and belonging across the pathology profession. 

Dr Hebah Ali, Consultant Haematopathologist and former International Education Lead at RCPath

Can you tell us a little about your background and what drew you to haematopathology? 

I am a Consultant Haematopathologist and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at HMDS Leeds. My journey into haematopathology began after completing my histopathology training in Saudi Arabia and the UK, followed by specialising in haematopathology at University College Hospital, London. What drew me to this field is its unique blend of complex diagnostics and its impact on patient care. 

You served as an International Education Lead at the College until March this year. How and why did you first become involved in the work of the College? 

I began my involvement with the College in 2018 through the International Trainee Support Scheme, driven by a desire to support doctors in completing their College examinations, gaining fellowship status and achieving specialist registration. Mentoring has been deeply rewarding – I take as much pride in my mentees' successes as my own. Stepping into the International Education Lead role felt both a natural progression and a privilege. I'm now excited to expand this work further in collaboration with the Member Engagement and Support team. 

The Haematopathology Hub is a new online community developed specifically for College members specialising, or with an interest in, haematopathology. Why did you feel this community space was needed? 

Haematopathology is a dynamic and evolving specialty, shaped by collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, including pathologists, haematologists, scientists and researchers from diverse backgrounds. I felt there was a genuine need for a dedicated space where colleagues could come together to share insights, ask questions and support one another. The Hub aims to foster a welcoming sense of community, bridging professional siloes and encouraging meaningful dialogue across all stages of experience and career paths. 

How will the Hub benefit College members? 

Members can expect a rich mix of curated resources, relevant events and thought-provoking discussions from diagnostic challenges and guideline updates to research highlights and career development tips. It’s also a space to ask questions, share expertise and build networks with peers who understand the unique demands of haematopathology. 

The Haematopathology Hub is now live for members to join, with a launch event on Wednesday 21 May. What will this event entail?  

For our launch event, we are honoured to welcome Professor Kikkeri Naresh as our keynote speaker. Professor Naresh is a globally renowned haematopathologist and contributing author to the WHO Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours. He holds appointments as Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Visiting Professor at Imperial College London. 

His lecture will offer a reflective exploration of the multidisciplinary beauty of haematopathology, drawing on his vast clinical and academic experience. We hope this event not only inspires, but also sparks meaningful connections, setting the stage for a vibrant, inclusive and supportive community of practice. 

Stephen Rainbird, Member Engagement and Support Manager at RCPath 

As the Member Engagement and Support Manager at the College, can you tell us what this role entails? 

I lead the Member Engagement Support team, and am responsible for coordinating engagement activities across the College and for driving the development and delivery of products and services in response to member feedback. This is an exciting area to work in, seeking to gain insight from members on their priorities for the College, and developing ideas and plans to meet these challenges. I am keen to see that we deliver strong personalised member engagement, building member confidence in the College, and that we understand what is important and we prioritise improvement in these areas. 

You’ve been spearheading the launch of online communities at the College. How do online communities support the College’s wider objectives? 

The College’s 5-year strategy sets out our aims for promoting and advancing excellence in pathology. Under strategic aim 3 – foster a sense of pride and belonging among our members – we have an objective to provide opportunities for members to network, share best practice and find support to address any challenges they face. Delivering an online community platform to the College should go a long way in meeting this objective.  

Creating a dedicated space for members to engage, share ideas and support one another should help us to cultivate a sense of belonging and unity. This platform can serve as a hub for networking, professional development, and collective problem-solving, empowering members to leverage their collective expertise and experiences. 

The College now runs two online communities for specific member groups – the Medical Examiner/Medical Examiner Officer Hub and the Haematopathology Hub. Are you planning to expand this further? 

Absolutely. Our goal is to offer a community platform to all members, exploring different community groups to best serve member need. The two current communities are pilots, and they should help us learn the best way to deliver and support this sort of service before we expand this. This will also let us navigate technical challenges in adopting such a versatile platform.  

Moreover, progress here should enhance member satisfaction by providing valuable resources and opportunities for meaningful interactions. Embracing this initiative serves not only to strengthen the pathology community, but also drives innovation and progress, potentially making this a cornerstone for future success. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share about the College’s work in online communities, or the work of the Member Engagement and Support team more generally? 

Now that our pilot communities are live, we will start to develop a College Communities Strategy that will look at how we can expand and deliver a community platform for all members. We are excited to progress this service for members and will bring further news as we have it. 

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If you are working in haematopathology and are interested in joining the Haematopathology Hub, or if you have any questions about the College’s online communities, please get in touch.