We are delighted to announce Dr Andrés Gómez De León as a touchHEMATOLOGY Future Leader 2026, selected by his peers as a rising star poised to shape the future of acute leukemia.

Dr Andrés Gómez De León is an Associate Professor of Hematology in the University Hospital in Monterrey Mexico, where he focuses on the care of persons with acute leukemia, performs transplant and cell therapy and mentors undergraduate and postgraduate trainees. He leads early phase clinical trials seeking to implement novel diagnostic tools and therapies for patients in low- and middle-income countries. His research interests also include health services and outcomes research, global disparities in research capacity and medical education.

In this touchHEMATOLOGY Future Leaders interview, Dr Andrés Gómez De León reflects on the mentorship that shaped his career, the rewards of caring for patients with hematological malignancies and his vision for expanding research capacity and improving access to innovation worldwide.

Can you tell us about a mentor who significantly impacted your career, and the most valuable lesson they shared with you?

I am a third generation hematologist. My father, Prof. David Gómez-Almaguer, has also been my most important professional mentor throughout my career (and still is). He has taught me many lessons, but the most valuable has been to always put the patient first: to care for each person with the highest standards possible, even in the face of limited resources, and to be mindful of every detail. He also taught me to have the courage to question the status quo and to find my own way through critical appraisal of evidence, curiosity, creativity, and, sometimes, a little luck.

What aspects of your work do you find most fulfilling?

I greatly enjoy caring for patients, particularly adolescents and young adults with hematological malignancies. Perhaps because I can see part of myself in them, and I feel I can build close relationships with them and their families.

I find performing transplant and cell therapy very rewarding. There is something magical about the transplant journey: patients, families and the medical team come together through an intense and transformative experience, creating a bond that is never broken.

In my academic role as a university professor, I also find great fulfillment in mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate trainees through clinical research. Creating knowledge, improving patient care while teaching, and learning something new along the way, and having fun while doing it… can it get any better?

Looking ahead, what do you anticipate will be the biggest advancements or changes in your field over the next decade?

I believe one of the greatest challenges and opportunities in the field over the next decade is implementation. There is still a major gap between scientific advances and their real-world application, particularly in low-and middle income countries.

Most people in the world live in these regions, yet the academic and scientific production remains disproportionately low. We need to learn how to better care for our patients through locally developed research, supported by meaningful international collaborations with academic institutions, professional societies and industry partners.

To achieve this, we must focus on education, building capacity and empowering clinicians to pursue academic work and engage in health policy. If we do this well, we can truly change the world.

Disclosures: This short article was prepared by touchHEMATOLOGY in collaboration with Dr Andrés Gómez De León. No fees or funding were associated with its publication.

Citation: Dr Andrés Gómez De León on finding purpose, passion and enthusiasm: touchHEMATOLOGY Future Leaders 2026. touchHEMATOLOGY. 22 July 2026.

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