Join us for a conversation with hematologist–oncologist and geneticist Dr. Michael Drazer for a wide-ranging discussion on caring for people with hereditary blood and cancer syndromes, including patients with leukemia. He talks about how watching mentors with very different bedside styles influenced how his approach to the doctor–patient relationship has evolved throughout his career. We also discuss how Dr. Drazer’s clinical work guides his team’s research, shifting the focus from ‘blue sky’ science to studies grounded in his patients’ real-world challenges.