2008 Award Winners
Memorial Awards and Lectureships
2008 Chapman-Franzmeier Memorial Award and Lectureship
2008 Dale A. Smith Memorial Award
2008 David B. Pall Prize for Innovative Research in Transfusion Medicine
2008 Emily Cooley Memorial Award and Lectureship
2008 Hemphill-Jordan Leadership Award
2008 Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award and Lectureship
2008 Sally Frank Memorial Award and Lectureship
2008 Tibor Greenwalt Scientific Memorial Award and Lectureship
2008 International Woman in Transfusion Award
2008 President’s Award
2008 Outstanding Achievement Award – Organization
2008 Awards of Merit
Award of Merit – Business
Award of Merit – Education
Award of Merit – Group
Award of Merit – Individual
Award of Merit – Radio
Award of Merit – Television
2008 AABB-Fenwal Scholarship Awards
2008 AABB Suzanne Ledin Travel Awards
Memorial Awards And Lectureships
2008 Chapman-Franzmeier Memorial Award and Lectureship
The Chapman-Franzmeier Memorial Award and Lectureship, created in 1983, recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions locally and nationally to effectively enhance the recruitment of blood donors. Recipient is selected by AABB’s Donor Recruitment/Public Relations Committee with formal approval by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Joyce Kleist
Director of Donor Recruitment
Carter BloodCare
Bedford, Texas
Citation: For demonstrating the highest level of integrity and professionalism while possessing a keen sense of community awareness and involvement in furthering the cause of donor recruitment. She has shared her wisdom, knowledge and experience with countless colleagues while serving on local, regional, national and international committees and organizations.
Bio/Background: Ms. Kleist has served in the field of blood banking for more than 25 years, demonstrating the highest level of integrity and professionalism while possessing a keen sense of community awareness and involvement in furthering the cause of donor recruitment.
She began her career in blood donor recruitment at the Community Blood Center in Dayton, Ohio, where she worked for 16 years as a donor services manager. She then served as director of donor recruitment with Northwest Florida Blood Center in Pensacola, Fla., before joining Carter BloodCare as director of donor recruitment in 2004.
Ms. Kleist continues to share her knowledge with countless colleagues through various programs at local and national recruitment conferences. In both formal and informal settings, Ms. Kleist has motivated colleagues through her knowledge and willingness to share her creative ideas. She has written articles for AABB News and was a contributor for “Donor Recruitment Tips, Techniques and Tales,” which was published by AABB in 2005.
An AABB member since 1983, Ms. Kleist is active in numerous national and regional blood banking associations and organizations, including America’s Blood Centers, the Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals (ADRP), Blood Centers of America, and South Central Association of Blood Banks. A past president of ADRP, she currently serves as the ADRP liaison to AABB’s Annual Meeting Education Program Unit, specifically contributing to the Recruitment/Collections Track.
Additionally, Ms. Kleist received the ADRP Ron Franzmeier Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Supported by CaridianBCT (formerly Gambro BCT)
2008 Dale A. Smith Memorial Award
This award, created in 2002, honors Dale A. Smith, a long-time Baxter Healthcare executive who was responsible for establishing the Fenwal Division of Baxter. The award recognizes groundbreaking work performed in the application of technology to the practice of transfusion medicine by an individual or an institution. Recipient is selected by the National Blood Foundation (NBF) Scientific Grants Review Committee with formal approval by the NBF Board of Trustees.
Paul B. Kelly, MD, FACS
Retired Cardiovascular Surgeon
Fair Oaks, Calif.
Keith A. Samolyk, CCP, LCP
President and Chief Executive Officer
Global Blood Resources LLC
Windsor, Conn.
Citation: For their work in developing innovative methods of blood salvage and autologous transfusion. Their significant contributions have led to the effective conservation of allogeneic blood products.
Bio/Background:
Paul B. Kelly, MD, FACS
A native of San Francisco, Dr. Kelly graduated from Stanford University in 1957. He earned his medical degree from McGill University in Montréal, where he graduated with honors in 1961. Dr. Kelly then completed a seven-year residency in general and thoracic surgery at the University of California Medical Center. Following his residency, Dr. Kelly served in the U.S. Army Medical Corp from 1968-1971.
In 1971, Dr. Kelly joined a rapidly growing cardiovascular program at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento, Calif., where he and his colleagues created the first heart transplant program in the Sacramento area in 1989. Dr. Kelly's work led directly to the creation of the Cell Saver prototype in 1974, manufactured by Haemonetics and widely used in operating rooms today to reduce the amount of blood needed per operation and prevent the transmission of blood borne diseases. Dr. Kelly’s work to minimize the need for allogeneic transfusion in the operating room played a pivotal role at a critical time in the blood community, allaying fears of allogeneic transfusion fueled by the emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic and blood borne viruses.
Dr. Kelly is affiliated with numerous professional associations and organizations, including the American College of Surgeons, American Heart Association, and American Medical Association.
Following his retirement in 1998, Dr. Kelly continued to connect a patient need with an innovative solution. He is co-inventor of the FallSaver, a device to avoid falls for at-risk individuals.
Keith A. Samolyk, CCP, LCP
Mr. Samolyk, a cardiovascular perfusionist and AABB member from New England, developed and brought to market the Hemobag®, a whole blood salvaging medical device that is used in the cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgical settings for salvaging whole blood from extracorporeal circuits. He currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Global Blood Resources LLC, which markets the Hemobag. The Hemobag device is unique from traditional cell savers used in invasive surgical procedures in that it saves and concentrates not only the red blood cell components, but also the plasma components rich with autologous platelets, clotting factors and other important plasma proteins in a quick and concentrated form for easy reinfusion back to the patient in surgery.
Mr. Samolyk is an active member of numerous professional organizations, including: AABB, the American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology (AmSect), American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion (AACP), the International Consortium of Evidence-based Best Practices (ICEBP), the Network for Advancement of Transfusion Alternatives (NATA), and the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management (SABM).
In addition, he is a director of the International Board of Blood Management (IBBM), a steering committee member of AmSect’s “New Advances in Blood Management” program, co-chair of the Perfusion Education Committee of SABM, and a member of ICEBP’s Writing Group.
Endowed by Fenwal, Inc.
2008 David B. Pall Prize for Innovative Research in Transfusion Medicine
The David B. Pall Prize for Innovative Research in Transfusion Medicine was created in 2005 to honor Pall Corporation’s founder, whose lifetime research advanced the practice of transfusion therapy. This award recognizes a scientist whose original research resulted in an important contribution to the body of scientific knowledge. Recipient is selected by the National Blood Foundation (NBF) Scientific Grants Review Committee with formal approval by the NBF Board of Trustees.
Jose A. Cancelas, MD, PhD
Director, Research Division, Hoxworth Blood Center;
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Medical Center,
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Citation: For his completed National Blood Foundation-funded research titled, “Mobilization of Hematopoietic Stem Cells by Reversible Inhibition of Rac-Type Rho GTPases: Demonstration of Proof-of-Concept for Future Clinical Applications,” which has provided great insight to improving transfusion medicine outcomes.
Bio/Background: Dr. Cancelas currently serves as director of the Research Division and medical director for Cell Therapies at Hoxworth Blood Center. He also serves as an associate professor in the Division of Experimental Hematology and Cell Biology within the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati’s Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
His current research focuses on analysis of the molecular pathways involved in hematopoietic stem cell engraftment, mobilization and leukemogenesis. Dr. Cancelas’ most recent studies have contributed to a better understanding of the role of Rac GTPases in hematopoietic stem cell biology, in blood formation, and with different oncogenic proteins in leukemia signaling pathways. These studies have allowed the development of novel pharmacological targets for stem cell intervention in stem cell transplantation and leukemia.
Endowed by Pall Corporation
2008 Emily Cooley Memorial Award and Lectureship
The Emily Cooley Memorial Award and Lectureship began as a lectureship in 1963, and was designated as a Memorial Award in 1983. This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated teaching ability and has made a major contribution to the field of immunohematology and transfusion medicine or cellular therapies. Recipient is selected by the Annual Meeting Education Program Unit with formal approval by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Ronald G. Strauss, MD
Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology
University of Iowa College of Medicine
Iowa City, Iowa
Citation: For his significant contributions to the practice of pediatric transfusion medicine, his extensive clinical research in neonatal and pediatric medicine, and his active support of the educational mission of AABB via workshops, reviews, committee assignments and presentations at the AABB Annual Meeting.
Bio/Background: Dr. Strauss earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed a pediatric internship at Boston City Hospital and a pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology at the Children’s Hospital Research Foundation in Cincinnati. Dr. Strauss is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in general pediatrics and hematology/oncology, as well as by the American Board of Pathology in transfusion medicine/blood banking.
Dr. Strauss’ research interests have largely focused on neonatal/pediatric hematopoiesis, hematology, and transfusion medicine, as well as techniques and clinical applications of automated hemapheresis – particularly, granulocyte collection and transfusion. In addition to publishing numerous original articles, reviews and chapters on these topics, he has actively supported the educational mission of AABB by serving as a member of its Board of Directors and via participation in workshops, reviews, committees and presentations at the AABB Annual Meeting.
Throughout his career, Dr. Strauss has received several awards and lectureships, including the Presidential Award from the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA), the Richard J. Davey Lectureship Award from the National Institutes of Health, and appointment to the Cincinnati Pediatric Historical Society Hall of Honor. In addition, he was selected as the Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine Class of 1965.
Endowed by Blood Systems/United Blood Services
2008 Hemphill-Jordan Leadership Award
This award, renamed in 2005, honors leaders from the blood banking and transfusion medicine community, including Bernice Hemphill, W. Quinn Jordan, and Joel Solomon. The award recognizes an individual who made significant contributions in the areas of administration, quality programs, law and/or government affairs. Recipient is selected by AABB’s Administrative Section Coordinating Committee with formal approval by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Daniel Somuah, MT
Transfusion Medicine Unit
Anglogold Ashanti Hospital
Anglogold Ashanti Company Ltd.
Obuasi, Ghana
Citation: For exemplifying the role of a leader who took the initiative to improve transfusion medicine in a resource-challenged environment. He personally raised funds to come to the U.S. to study blood resource management principles. Upon returning to Ghana, he applied learned principles within his community, which led to doubling his community’s available blood supply.
Bio/Background: Born in Accra, Ghana, Mr. Somuah entered the transfusion medicine field as a laboratory technician in 1988 and qualified as a medical technician in 1990. He earned his diploma in Medical Technology from the University of Ghana in 2001, and has received additional training at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s School of Medical Laboratory Technology in Accra, Ghana. Mr. Somuah also received training in blood resource management at Puget Sound Blood Center in 2005.
Mr. Somuah, in 1993, joined AngloGold Ashanti Hospital in Obuasi, Ghana, and currently serves in the hospital’s Transfusion Medicine Unit as medical technologist in charge of the Hematology and Blood Bank Departments. In this capacity, he has developed a transfusion manual for the AngloGold Ashanti Mines Hospital and has been involved in coordinating the hospital’s HIV Treatment Acceleration Program. He also has served as a member of the committee responsible for the appropriate use of blood and blood products. Mr. Somuah works diligently to promote donor awareness within his community and assists other hospital blood banks with their donor recruitment needs. He has spearheaded efforts to promote World Blood Donor Day, and under his leadership the AngloGold Ashanti Hospital has seen a significant increase in monthly blood collections.
Mr. Somuah has published six articles focusing on diagnosis of malaria, bacteriological isolates and transfusion safety, and also has made numerous presentations regarding these topics.
Endowed by Blood Systems/United Blood Services and Lewis and Roca
2008 Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award and Lectureship
This award was created in 1954 to honor Karl Landsteiner, MD, whose lifetime research laid the foundation for modern blood transfusion therapy. The award recognizes a scientist whose original research resulted in an important contribution to the body of scientific knowledge. Recipient is selected by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Ernest Beutler, MD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine
Scripps Research Institute
La Jolla, Calif.
Citation: For his significant lifelong contributions to genetics and transfusion medicine, which have resulted in a better understanding of Gaucher and Tay-Sachs disease; new therapies for leukemia, bone marrow transplantation in acute leukemia and 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine in lymphoid malignances; and development of the well known computer software program Reference Manager.
Bio/Background: Dr. Beutler obtained his undergraduate, medical school and residency training at the University of Chicago. He then served in the U.S. Army, where he investigated anemia produced by antimalarial drugs and played a major role in identifying a genetic defect — glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Dr. Beutler then joined the faculty of the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago, where he studied iron metabolism and red blood cell metabolism. In 1959, he became chairman of the Department of Medicine of the City of Hope Medical Center, and in 1979 assumed the chairmanship of the Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine of The Scripps Research Institute.
Dr. Beutler made fundamental contributions to the understanding of Tay-Sachs disease, galactosemia, and sickle cell and other hemolytic anemias. His group cloned the gene responsible for Gaucher disease and developed treatments for this disease. In addition, Dr. Beutler designed the first artificial storage media for red blood cells, introduced the use of mannitol (still a mainstay in red cell preservation), and devised a variety of approaches to maintaining red cell ATP and 2, 3-DPG levels and determined the viability of the cells in human volunteers.
He also played a major role in pioneering new therapies for leukemia, bone marrow transplantation in acute leukemia and 2-chorodeoxyadenosine in lymphoid malignancies. In addition, Dr. Beutler wrote the well-known software program Reference Manager.
Throughout his career, Dr. Beutler has been elected to various prestigious professional societies, including the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has been honored as the recipient of numerous awards for his outstanding contributions to genetics and transfusion medicine.
Supported by The Institute for Transfusion Medicine (ITxM)
2008 Sally Frank Memorial Award and Lectureship
The Sally Frank Memorial Award and Lectureship was established in 1982 in memory of Ms. Sally Frank and her dedication to red cell serology and education. This award recognizes an individual who is, or has been, a medical technologist involved with these fields and has demonstrated quality research, teaching and/or service abilities in the technical aspects of immunohematology. Recipient is selected by the Annual Meeting Education Program Unit with formal approval by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Denise Harmening, PhD, MT(ASCP)
Director, Instruction and Customer Learning
American Red Cross, Heritage Division
Crofton, Md.
Citation: For exhibiting the key qualities of an educator and researcher in the spirit of Sally Frank. Dr. Harmening is an accomplished author whose books on laboratory management, clinical hematology, and modern blood banking and transfusion practices have become the foundation of knowledge for a generation of technologists and transfusionists. She has authored numerous publications, guest lectured at many regional, national and international meetings and served on several AABB committees.
Bio/Background: Dr. Harmening has contributed to the field of blood banking and transfusion medicine for more than 25 years. In addition to her current position with the American Red Cross, she also serves as a professor in the Department of Medical and Research Technology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), where she previously served as assistant dean of Health Care Policy and Planning. Dr. Harmening is the founding chair of two departments — Clinical Laboratory Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University and the Department of Medical and Research Technology at University of Maryland, Baltimore. She has been the principle investigator for seven grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and has completed more than 15 clinical trials. Her research in red cell and platelet preservation has led to seven patents.
An active member of AABB since 1976, Dr. Harmening also served as director of Educational Services for AABB from 1982 to 1984. She has served on numerous AABB committees and is a current member of the AABB Distance Learning Program Unit. Dr. Harmening also has served on numerous national, state, and local committees and advisory boards. In addition, she received the Excellence in Education Award, a national recognition given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology, and the Massachusetts Association of Blood Banks Karen Tiegerman Memorial Lectureship. Dr. Harmening was inducted as a fellow in the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions in 2001, and was named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 2001 and 2003.
Endowed by family, friends and colleagues of Sally Frank
2008 Tibor Greenwalt Memorial Award and Lectureship
This award honors Tibor Greenwalt, MD, the first registrant at the first AABB Annual Meeting and founding editor of TRANSFUSION. The award recognizes an individual who made major scientific or clinical contributions to hematology and transfusion medicine and succinctly communicated these advances. Recipient is selected by the Annual Meeting Education Program Unit with formal approval by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Gary Moroff, PhD
Head, Blood Components Department,
Jerome H. Holland Laboratory for the Biomedical Sciences,
American Red Cross Biomedical Services
Rockville, Md.
Citation: For his lifelong dedication to the advancement of blood banking and transfusion medicine. Dr. Moroff has published numerous research articles pertaining to blood cell preparation and storage. He has been an effective teacher of blood banking and transfusion medicine.
Bio/Background: Dr. Moroff earned his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Drexel University, and his master’s degree and doctorate in Biochemistry from Purdue University. He then served as a research assistant at New York University Medical Center and Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, N.Y., before joining the American Red Cross in 1974. During his tenure at the American Red Cross, Dr. Moroff has been appointed to various positions, ultimately assuming his current role within the organization in 2005.
Dr. Moroff has dedicated much of his life to the advancement of transfusion medicine. His research interests have included preparation, preservation and quality control of platelets and red cells, as well as preservation and quality control of peripheral blood and cord blood stem/progenitor cells. He has published numerous research articles in these areas. In addition, he has been an effective teacher of blood banking and transfusion medicine.
Dr. Moroff has been very active in AABB. He is currently chair of the AABB Selection of Abstracts Program Unit and serves on the editorial board of TRANSFUSION. Dr. Moroff also has been a member of the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative, an international research organization that explores ways to improve transfusion-related services through standardization of analytic techniques, development of new procedures and execution of clinical trials in hemotherapy.
Supported by Hoxworth Blood Center and endowed by the Dr. Peter Greenwalt family, and friends and colleagues of Dr. Tibor Greenwalt in the transfusion medicine community
2008 International Woman in Transfusion Award
In 2004, for the first time in their collective histories, three of the major transfusion medicine organizations in the world – AABB, the British Blood Transfusion Society (BBTS) and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) – were led by women professionals. To commemorate this occurrence, the three organizations established this unique award to honor women for lifetime achievements in transfusion medicine and science. This award recognizes women professionals whose cumulative record – in original research, innovative education methods or outstanding clinical practice – demonstrates important and significant contributions to the body of medical and/or scientific knowledge or to the understanding and practice of transfusion medicine. Recipient is selected by AABB, the British Blood Transfusion Society, and the International Society of Blood Transfusion.
Cecile Kaplan-Gouet, MD
Director, Platelet Immunology Department
National Institute of Blood Transfusion
Paris, France
For more than 30 years, Dr. Kaplan-Gouet’s research has focused on fetal/neonatal immune thrombocytopenia, which led to the first antenatal diagnoses and in utero therapy. She helped establish the European Symposium on Platelet Immunology by organizing the first meeting in 1990 and currently chairs the ISBT platelet immunology working party. Dr. Kaplan-Gouet received this award in June as part of the International Woman in Transfusion Award lecture at the ISBT meeting in Macau.
2008 President’s Award
This honor recognizes extraordinary public service and contributions by an individual or an organization in the health care arena. The recipient's work furthers AABB's goals and mission.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)
U.S. Senate
Salt Lake City, Utah
Rep. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.)
U.S. House of Representatives
Hamilton, N.J.
Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.)
U.S. House of Representatives
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Citation: For championing the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program legislation, which supports the goals of the transfusion medicine and cellular therapies community by helping to save lives and improve care for patients battling life-threatening diseases.
Bio/Background:
Sen. Orrin Hatch
Joining the U.S. Senate as a member of the 95th Congress in 1977, Mr. Hatch is Utah’s longest-serving senator. Throughout the years, he has served on numerous committees and authored numerous bills that have been passed into law.
Mr. Hatch currently serves as a senior member of the Senate Committee on Finance, where he has been a leading advocate for policies to encourage savings and investment, such as the Capital Formation Act of 1997, as well as many other pro-growth tax bills. Mr. Hatch also is a senior member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees government intelligence agencies and departments to ensure that their actions and information are timely, accurate and constitutional. He also is a member of the Joint Committee on Taxation. In addition, he has served as a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and former chairman of what is now called the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
In 2005, a law authored by Mr. Hatch established a National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank Network (P.L. 109-129) to prepare, store, and distribute human umbilical cord blood stem cells for the treatment of patients and to support peer-reviewed research using such cells. This research helps patients suffering from diseases such as leukemia, Hodgkin's Disease and sickle cell anemia. This law significantly increases a patient's chance of finding a suitable genetic match when faced with a grave disease.
Most recently Mr. Hatch has worked to move legislation forward on a variety of legacy issues in health care, such as renewing the Children's Health Insurance Program, monitoring adverse events in dietary supplements, providing an overhaul of the Food and Drug Administration, and pushing forward with embryonic stem cell research.
Rep. Christopher Smith
A resident of Hamilton, N.J., Rep. Smith has represented the citizens of New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District since 1981, when he was sworn into office at the age of 27. Throughout his 28 years of service, he has established himself as a nationally and internationally renowned leader in Congress, particularly in the areas of human rights, religious freedom, veterans’ affairs and health care.
Mr. Smith is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and ranking Republican of the Committee's Africa and Global Health Subcommittee. He also serves as a ranking member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (also known as the United States Helsinki Commission), which works to promote and foster democracy, human rights, and stability in Eastern and Central Europe, and on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China which monitors human rights and the development of the rule of law in China. From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Smith served as chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, a panel responsible for the well-being of our nation's 25 million military veterans.
Mr. Smith has authored and championed numerous laws. In 2005 alone, four of his bills were signed into law by President Bush, including the “Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005,” which provides $265 million for stem cell therapy, umbilical cord blood and bone marrow treatment. It also authorizes $79 million for the collection of cord blood stem cells. Thousands of patients have been successfully treated with cord blood stem cells for more than 67 diseases including leukemia and sickle cell anemia, and Mr. Smith’s bill assures that these treatments will now be available to tens of thousands of patients in need of transplant.
Rep. C.W. Bill Young
Rep. Young was born in Harmarville, Pa., and moved to the St. Petersburg area at the age of 15. Before being sworn into Congress in 1970, he served ten years in the Florida State Senate. Mr. Young is serving his 19th term in Congress as a representative of the Tenth Congressional District of Florida. He is the senior member of the Florida congressional delegation and the senior Republican in the House of Representatives.
Mr. Young currently serves as Ranking Republican Member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, which he chaired from 1995-1998 and 2005-2006. He also is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and the Appropriations Select Intelligence Oversight Panel.
From 1999-2005, Mr. Young served as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, overseeing the entire federal discretionary budget. In addition to his previous tenure as chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, he also has served as a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Mr. Young has been a leading advocate for increased biomedical research. During his chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee, he successfully led the effort in Congress to double federal medical research funding over five years.
In 1986, he was instrumental in founding a national registry for bone marrow donors. Now named the "C.W. Bill Young Marrow Donor Recruitment and Research Program" in his honor, the registry lists more than six million volunteer donors for patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases and has served as a model for similar programs throughout the world.
2008 Outstanding Achievement Award – Organization
This award recognizes an organization that, on a national scale, promotes and supports voluntary blood donations. Recipient is selected by AABB’s Donor Recruitment/Public Relations Committee with formal approval by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Mark Smith
President
MIDAS of Richmond
Richmond, Va.
Nominated by Virginia Blood Services
Citation: For his extraordinary commitment to and creativity in advocating blood donation both regionally and nationally. A three-gallon donor himself, Mr. Smith organizes and promotes numerous blood drives each year at his regional MIDAS car repair centers, which have resulted in the collection of more than 2,500 units since 2001. In addition, MIDAS owners from 15 other U.S. cities have instituted similar blood donation programs in response to his influence at national MIDAS meetings.
Bio/Background: Mark Smith has established himself as an advocate of blood donation on both the regional and national stage. A three-gallon donor himself, Mr. Smith organizes and promotes numerous blood drives each year at his five regional MIDAS car repair centers. Since 2001, his efforts have resulted in the collection of more than 2,500 units. In 2007 alone, more than 1,200 units were collected at Mr. Smith’s drives, representing the equivalent of a 4- to 5-day supply at each of the area’s 14 hospitals. That same year, he spent $60,000 to promote his blood drives.
In addition, Mr. Smith has formed a donor acknowledgement program with Virginia Blood Services that rewards participants for regular blood donation. To date, he has rewarded donors with more than $110,000 worth of oil changes, tires and other items. Having heard Mr. Smith’s presentations at national MIDAS meetings, MIDAS owners from 15 other U.S. cities have instituted similar blood donation programs.
Further, Mr. Smith and Virginia Blood Services have established a unique blood donor recruitment program that encourages teenagers — an increasingly important demographic — to become regular and lifelong donors.
2008 Awards of Merit
The Awards of Merit are presented annually by AABB to media and/or public-spirited groups and individuals who have made significant contributions to blood banking and transfusion medicine at the local level. Recipients are selected by AABB’s Donor Recruitment/Public Relations Committee with formal approval by AABB’s Board of Directors.
Award of Merit – Business
Includes profit and not-for-profit business organizations/corporations. Nominees are judged on their significant participation and support of blood banking and transfusion medicine as compared with other area businesses.
Nationwide
Des Moines, Iowa
Nominated by The Blood Center of Iowa
Citation: For its company-wide commitment to and support of volunteer blood donation. In 2007 alone, approximately 70 percent of the company’s employees participated in its blood donation program, resulting in the collection of 2,780 pints of blood. In addition, Nationwide helps underwrite costs associated with blood drives and recently awarded a grant for a new bloodmobile bus to The Blood Center of Iowa.
Bio/Background: For more than 16 years, Nationwide has supported The Blood Center of Iowa by educating its employees about the importance of blood donations and by providing financial assistance relating to blood drives.
In 2007 alone, approximately 70 percent of the company’s employees participated in its blood donation program, resulting in the collection of 2,780 pints of blood. Moreover, Nationwide employee donations accounted for 3 percent of the total amount of blood collected by The Blood Center of Iowa in 2007.
Several years ago, Nationwide created a company-wide blood donation program as part of its Corporate Citizenship program, making it convenient for employees to take part in blood drives and encouraging regular blood donations from all employees who are eligible. To help encourage employee participation, Nationwide rewards each employee a half-day of vacation for whole blood donation and one full vacation day for double red cell donation.
In addition, the company generously provides an annual $20,000 contribution to underwrite costs associated with The Blood Center’s largest annual media-hosted blood drive. In 2007, the Nationwide Foundation awarded The Blood Center a $240,000 grant for the purchase of a new bloodmobile bus. This grant will allow for an increased focus on small business sponsor recruitment, more blood drives and, ultimately, more units of blood collected.
Award of Merit – Education
Includes high schools, vocational schools, colleges, universities, and other educational facilities with outstanding participation in blood drives and a general support of blood banking within the community.
Falfurrias High School
Falfurrias, Texas
Nominated by Coastal Bend Blood Center
Citation: For building an outstanding high school blood program that produced 406 units of blood in 2006-2007. This achievement is remarkable considering the school’s student body consists of only 220 juniors and seniors and the entire community population is comprised of 5,000 people. Falfurrias High School increased blood collections by 113 percent within the past four years.
Bio/Background: For the past four years, Falfurrias High School has cultivated an outstanding blood program that continues to grow and help save lives. During this time, the school has increased blood collections by 113 percent, resulting in the collection of 406 units of blood in 2006-2007 alone — a remarkable achievement considering the school’s student body consists of only 220 juniors and seniors and the entire community population is comprised of 5,000 people. For four years, the efforts of the school’s students, faculty and staff have earned it top honors in its division for Coastal Bend Blood Center's annual High School Hero Challenge.
The school hosts blood drives, spearheaded by its National Honor Society students, every eight weeks during the school year and two blood drives during the summer. In addition, the school involves those students too young to donate by offering a “free dress code day” to all students under 17 years of age who have at least one of their parents donate on their behalf.
Award of Merit – Group
Recognizes the efforts of groups, such as chambers of commerce and civic and religious organizations, for their significant participation and support of blood banking.
The Knights of Columbus
Québec State Council
Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
Nominated by Héma-Québec
Citation: For being a significant partner to Hema-Québec, with its members contributing 8 percent of the annual blood collected in Québec. During the past five years, members of the Knights of Columbus – Québec State Council have organized a total of 809 blood drives that resulted in the registration of 123,000 blood donors. This group also has conducted a major fundraising campaign for the Hema-Québec Foundation.
Bio/Background: The Québec State Council of the Knights of Columbus (The Québec State Council) has supported blood donation in Canada for many years. Since the establishment of Héma-Québec in 1998, the Québec State Council has become a key partner to the organization, contributing 8 percent of all blood collected in the province each year.
The Québec State Council assists Héma-Québec in organizing numerous blood drives each year and provides several volunteers at each drive. During the past five years, members of the Québec State Council organized a total of 809 blood drives that resulted in the registration of 123,000 blood donors.
In addition, the Québec State Council continues to conduct “The Local Charitable Works Campaign,” a major, annual fundraising campaign that supports the Héma-Québec Foundation. The Québec State Council organizes every aspect of this campaign, which raises more than $1 million each year.
Award of Merit – Individual
Recognizes an individual who, on a local level, promotes and supports voluntary blood donations. The award recognizes the single greatest contribution, by non-blood bank employees, to enhance the field of blood banking and transfusion medicine.
Ed Welch
Volunteer; Regional Blood Services Board Member
American Red Cross
Greensboro, N.C.
Nominated by American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region
Citation: For his unwavering altruism and dedication as a volunteer and long-term blood donor. He has been a volunteer for 35 years and has donated more than 31 gallons of blood for patients in need. Recruiting blood donors has become something of a second career for him, having personally registered 16,000 individuals in his community just in the past four years alone.
Bio/Background: For 35 years, Ed Welch has dedicated himself to promoting blood donation in the area of Greensboro, N.C. A 31-gallon donor himself, Mr. Welch places more than 1,000 phone calls to potential blood donors each month and has personally registered more than 16,000 individuals in his community in the past four years alone.
He has contributed to the American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region as a member of its Board of Directors for more than 13 years, serving as chairman for three consecutive terms from 2002-2004. In addition, he served as chairman of the American Red Cross Greensboro Chapter Blood Services Committee for the past 11 years, helping it earn national recognition as the number one Red Cross blood services chapter in 2004.
The American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region honored Mr. Welch in 2004 by creating the annual Ed Welch Award for Outstanding Achievement in Blood Services, which recognizes volunteers for their support and work within the local blood program.
Mr. Welch’s lifelong dedication to his community’s blood program and other civic organizations continues to inspire local blood donors, Red Cross staff and other volunteers in the Greensboro community.
Award of Merit – Radio
Recognizes radio stations that respond to blood emergencies and provide radio exposure, including creative involvement and air time for coverage of blood banking and transfusion medicine topics.
95.5 KLOS-FM
Los Angeles, Calif.
Nominated by American Red Cross Blood Services – Southern California Region
Citation: For its longtime support of the American Red Cross Blood Services – Southern California Region, including blood drive sponsorship; promotional air time and engaging its corporate partners to raise community awareness about the importance of blood donation. For more than 26 years, KLOS-FM has participated in a variety of blood donation-related activities, including its annual KLOS Blood Drive, which, since its inception in 1981, has resulted in the collection of more than 92,000 units of blood.
Bio/Background: For more than 26 years, 95.5 KLOS-FM has provided significant support to the American Red Cross – Southern California Region through blood drive sponsorship and raising community awareness about the importance of blood donation.
Since 1981, the station has organized the annual KLOS Blood Drive, which has facilitated the collection of more than 92,000 units of blood. In 2007, KLOS responded to a critically low local blood supply by sponsoring and promoting a special emergency blood drive two weeks before its regularly scheduled annual blood drive. The regularly scheduled blood drive resulted in the collection of more than 6,500 units of blood, and the two blood drives combined to help the Southern California area stave off an expected summer blood-shortage crisis.
As part of its annual blood drive sponsorship, KLOS provides ample promotional airtime and engages its corporate partners to raise community awareness about the importance of blood donation. KLOS also instituted the KLOS Rockin' Donor Club to encourage its summer blood drive participants to donate again in the winter holiday season, when the blood supply is typically low. In the past three years, more than 4,300 members have joined the club and more than 3,000 people who typically donate blood only once a year have now committed to donating more often.
Further, for the past two years, KLOS also has invited select blood recipient families to take part in its annual "Mark & Brian Shopping Spree," an event during the December holidays in which families in need shop for $1,000 worth of holiday gifts and/or household items.
Award of Merit – Television
Recognizes television stations that respond to blood emergencies and provide media exposure, including creative involvement and air time for coverage of blood banking and transfusion medicine topics.
KSTU FOX 13
Salt Lake City, Utah
Nominated by American Red Cross Blood Services – Lewis and Clark Region
Citation: For partnering with the American Red Cross in Salt Lake City, Utah, to sponsor the “Reach Out Utah” Blood Drive, an annual event held in December. Since its inception eight years ago, this event has brought in more than 3,000 donors and has collected more than 2,300 units of blood. In addition, station staff educate the public about blood donation by airing public service announcements, posting information on the station Web site and broadcasting information on daily shows.
Bio/Background: Since 2000, KSTU FOX 13 has partnered with the American Red Cross in Salt Lake City, Utah, to sponsor the annual "Reach Out Utah" Blood Drive. Since its inception eight years ago, this event, which takes place on the Tuesday before Christmas each year, has brought in more than 3,000 donors and has led to the collection of more than 2,300 units of blood. In 2007 alone, the event attracted more than 400 presenting donors and resulted in the collection of 355 productive units.
KSTU FOX 13 helps educate the Salt Lake community about the need for a safe and adequate blood supply. To help ensure the success of this blood drive, the station produces and airs multiple Public Service Advertisements (PSAs), provides extensive Web site coverage regarding the event, and broadcasts live on-site for 12 hours on the day of the drive. The FOX news anchors, reporters, sports broadcasters and meteorologists personally thank many of the donors for their commitment to donate.
In addition to the station’s all-day live coverage of the event, staff members from this television station also enlist the support of a local radio station to help promote the blood drive and food sponsors to provide complimentary breakfast and lunch for the hundreds of donors that take the time out of their busy holiday schedule to donate.
2008 AABB-Fenwal Scholarship Awards
Each year, the AABB-Fenwal Scholarship Awards, sponsored by Fenwal Inc., are awarded to persons accepted for enrollment, enrolled in, or recently graduated from an accredited Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) program or accredited Transfusion Medicine Fellowship. These scholarships, initiated in 1992, promote interest in research, development, and continuing education in the field of transfusion medicine.
SBB Student Award:
Denden Alcantara, MS, MT(ASCP)
2008 AABB Suzanne Ledin Travel Awards
The AABB Suzanne Ledin Travel Awards, sponsored by the Suzanne Ledin Memorial Foundation, are presented to two individuals enrolled in or recently graduated from an accredited Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) program. The two travel awards honor the late Suzanne Ledin, MS, MT(ASCP)SBB, and her lifelong pursuit of learning and involvement in the field of transfusion medicine.
Recipients:
Karen J. Buikema, MS, MT(ASCP)SBB
LeAnn Richardson, MT(ASCP)
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