December 02, 2025
AABB is pleased to provide members with complimentary access to two 2025 Annual Meeting sessions organized by the Respect, Inclusion, Support and Engagement (RISE) Committee: “Inclusive Blood Donation Strategies for 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities” and “Donating for the Future: Bridging Generations and Communities for a Stronger Blood Supply.”
This session offered a high-level look at how blood operators in the United States and Canada are working to rebuild trust with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities following decades of exclusion under outdated eligibility criteria. Speakers discussed the transition to more inclusive, behavior-based screening policies and shared lessons learned from community-informed outreach, trust-building efforts and recruitment strategies designed to engage newly eligible donors.
This session explored the challenges of sustaining a diverse donor base amid shifting demographics, with presentations focused on engaging younger donors, addressing the needs of aging donors and strengthening racial and ethnic diversity to ensure matched blood for patients with rare blood types. Presenters emphasized the importance of tailored recruitment strategies, attention to donor health across age groups and continued alignment of donor engagement approaches with the needs of increasingly diverse communities.
Members can access both sessions directly through the AABB Education Platform at no cost. Continuing education credits are available for both sessions. The sessions are also included within the “AABB Member Benefit Learning Programs” collection, which members can access via the “My Learning Programs” page. Non-members may purchase access via the Annual Meeting On-Demand store.
4550 Montgomery Avenue
Suite 700, North Tower
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.907.6977
