Live Program Date: Thursday, October 28, 2021
Program Number: 21EL-688

Patient, Physician, and Donor Recruiter/Collection Video
Click here to play the video (part of the overall video program above)

Faculty
(titles and affiliations at the time of the live program)
Moderator: Yvette M. Miller, MD, ABIHM, Executive Medical Officer, American Red Cross, Donor and Client Support Center
Speakers: Rae Blaylark, President & CEO, Sickle Cell Foundation of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; Principle Consultant, Raise Hope Consulting, Minneapolis, MN; Sickle Cell Community Liaison, Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; Stella T. Chou, MD, Distinguished Chair in Pediatrics, Chief, Division of Transfusion Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; Yvette M. Miller, MD, ABIHM, Executive Medical Officer, American Red Cross, Donor and Client Support Center

Program Description
As the country experiences historic blood shortages, those in need of chronic transfusion are particularly vulnerable. Even during times of adequate blood supply, donations from diverse populations of donors may be inadequate to meet the transfusion needs of patients with conditions such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia. A strategic approach and understanding of how to reach donors with diverse backgrounds in their own communities will be critical to this effort. Success will go beyond raising awareness and recruiting donors; building and maintaining trust and ensuring that donors of color understand the importance of their regular donations to individuals with shared heritage are also essential to maintaining momentum.

Join us on this program to better understand the unique transfusion challenges facing the sickle cell and thalassemia populations, learn proven strategies for gaining and retaining African American and other donors of color, and find out about free resources available to aid you in your efforts.

Learning Objectives
After participating in this educational activity, participants should be able to:

Discuss the unique transfusion challenges facing the sickle cell and thalassemia populations.
Identify proven strategies for gaining and retaining African American and other donors of color.
Identify free resources available to aid you in your efforts to gain and retain African American and other donors of color.

Program Sponsor
This program is complimentary to AABB members through the generous support of the Georgia Health Policy Center.

Rae Blaylark

President & CEO, Sickle Cell Foundation of Minnesota

Appearances