Women in Science: VP Geyer Honored
Maria Elena Geyer, Puget Sound Blood Center’s vice president of donor services, last fall was among eight area women recognized for their work as “Women of Science.”

The honor was part of the Women of Color Empowered Luncheon, hosted by the Northwest Asian Weekly, an English language newspaper. Assunta Ng, publisher of the Weekly, as well as the Seattle Chinese Post, started the annual luncheon in 1996 to recognize the accomplishments of women from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Geyer previously had received the Chapman Franzmeier Memorial Award from the American Association of Blood Banks in recognition of her exceptional leadership in donor recruitment.

Also honored as “Women of Science” at the Women of Color luncheon were (pictured, from left): Phyllis Wise, Ph.D., UW provost & VP for academic affairs; Karina Walters, Ph.D., UW researcher; Gowsala Sivam, Ph.D., Bastyr University; Bessie Young, M.D., Kidney specialist & UW clinical instructor of medicine; Suzie Pun, Ph.D., UW asst. professor in bioengineering, Joan Robinson-Berry, M.S., Boeing director of supplier diversity; BiHoa Caldwell, Aki Kurose Middle School principal and Kim Kidwell, PhD., WSU professor of crop science.

Keeping a Commitment
She began donating blood more than 50 years ago. But then things got hectic and she just couldn’t find the time.

So she “took a long break” due to her raising three children and holding an outside job at the same time. And who could fault her?

Eventually though, her life settled down some and she resumed what she saw as an important aspect of being a member of the community. After retiring from her civilian position with the Navy 31 years ago, her commitment to donation was clearer than ever.

At 93, Eva Mae Hagen earned her 10-gallon donation pin in May during one her regular visits to Puget Sound Blood Center in Everett.

New Faces in Management
Since last fall, Puget Sound Blood Center has introduced three new upper level managers to fill vacated positions.

In September 2006, Clint Kendrick became the director of Blood Collection Services. With more than 12 years of management experience, Kendrick has a strong background in strategic planning and building strong successful teams, most recently in the high tech industry. He returns to the Blood Center years after initially working as part of the management team, and holds a degree in marketing from the University of Idaho.

Larry Clark joined the Blood Center as director of Finance at the beginning of 2007. He has 25 years of experience in accounting and finance in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, most recently as secretary/treasurer of APA — The Engineered Wood Association in Tacoma for 14 years. Clark received a business management degree from Washington State University, accounting and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Puget Sound and is a certified public accountant.

Ed Barber became the Blood Center's new director of Materials Management in February 2007 after five years as regional purchasing and materials manager with a subsidiary of LabCorp, one of the world's largest clinical laboratories. His previous experience includes more than 20 years in the U. S. Army and Army Reserves, mostly as operations and supply chain manager in various worldwide assignments, including deployments to Saudi Arabia and also to Iraq during combat operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and most recently, Iraqi Freedom.

Barber earned a degree in logistics management development from the U.S. Army Logistics Management College in Virginia.

Wallace Leads Blood Center Board
Puget Sound Blood Center’s board of trustees elected Robert C. Wallace as chairman and four members to three-year terms that began Jan. 1, 2007.

Wallace is CEO of Wallace Properties, Inc., and heads a number of affiliated entities involved in commercial real estate investment, development and management in Washington State and Arizona. The Seattle commercial real estate executive has served on the Board of Puget Sound Blood Center since 2004, and was vice chair in 2006 before assuming the chairmanship Jan. 1, 2007.

A director of First Mutual Bancshares for nearly 20 years, Wallace also has served the community as chair of the Washington State Major League Baseball Stadium Public Facilities District (Safeco Field), the Bellevue Convention Center Authority, both Greater Seattle and Bellevue chambers of commerce, and the Bellevue Rotary Club.

Wallace is committed to the Blood Center and its mission: “I recognize the value brought to patients and to our region’s leading medical centers by Puget Sound Blood Center, recognized internationally for its research and its contributions to transfusion medicine,” says Wallace. “During my term as Chair, I look to continue the work of others in providing the resources, personnel and facilities to enable the Blood Center to continue to provide services of the highest quality and cutting-edge research.”

Stepping up from the board to become vice chair is Barbara Sherland, JD, of Stoel Rives, LLP.

Board members who began full three-year terms in January are: Alan W. Schulkin, Attorney at Law; Mirtha Vaca-Wilkens, Project Manager/Story Project Coordinator at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center; Toni Richmond Hoffman, real estate broker and former board member of six years; and Leslie Giblett, local business woman.

Get in Shape to “Swim for Life”
Start training today.

How else do you think you’ll be able to swim 2.25 miles across Lake Washington from Medina to Seattle’s Madison Beach?

No big deal, you say? Think your “natural conditioning” carried you through the cold wet winter without putting on some additional “energy storage units?”

Think that Speedo still fits? For the sake of all, make sure – please.

Fortunately, you have some time to get into shape before the tenth annual “Swim for Life” on Wednesday, August 8, 2007.

The lake crossing usually takes between two and three hours to complete depending on individual ability, and swimmers will be accompanied by a support flotilla of boats. Cheers and refreshments will be there at Madison Beach to welcome the wet wonders who participate.

First Dip for Donors
In 1998, dedicated local blood donor Scott Leopold decided to swim solo from across Lake Washington, from Medina to Husky Stadium, in an effort to raise awareness of the need for blood donation.

He did. The resultant publicity prompted him to make the swim an annual event. So, he enlisted others to join him in the water and also, to contribute both blood and financial gifts to Puget Sound Blood Center.

Leopold has been leading the event ever since. Last year, “Swim for Life” raised nearly $18,000 and an untold number of blood donations. And just to show that he walks the talk as well as swims the lake, Leopold is a regular blood donor, last summer giving his 400th unit.

Swimmers will depart from Medina Beach, 501 Evergreen Point Road, behind Medina City Hall, at approximately 7:30a.m. Interested participants must be over 18-years of age, very strong swimmers and in excellent physical health.

Visit www.psbc.org for complete registration information, including entry fee.

If you’d like to volunteer, helping to make the event another great success, please call Kim at 206-292-7070.

Hospital Leaders Donate Blood in Vancouver
The leaders of Vancouver’s two major hospitals supported Southwest Washington Blood Program of Puget Sound Blood Center by donating blood at the new Vancouver Donor Center on March 5.

Joe Kortum (right), president and CEO, Southwest Washington Medical Center and Jonathan Avery, vice president and administrator, Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, donated blood at the same time that afternoon as a show of support for the Blood Program.

The state-of-the-art donor center opened January 17 to help accommodate the needs of patients and medical facilities in the area. The Blood Program serves the majority of patients who need blood transfusions at medical centers and hospitals in Clark and Cowlitz counties and has been serving patients in this part of Washington for more than 10 years. However, blood supply needs surpass the amount donated locally and the new donor center is part of an effort to offer donors more convenience.

Chipping in Is Easy from Here
All right, so the first time you heard someone mention a hole-in-one, you thought he was talking about his socks.

And to you, “putter” is something you do around the house on weekends; “long drive” entails gassing up the old oil burner for a trip to Pullman; and “rough” describes that guy you’ve been avoiding at the corner bar ever since you saw him on an episode of “Cops.”

Hey, maybe you even think that “Tiger Woods” is the name of the new exhibit over at the zoo.

Doesn’t matter. You can still enjoy June 15.

That’s the date of the fourth annual “Golf Gets in Your Blood Classic” tournament, dinner and auction...

You don’t have to play golf – especially if you can’t – but you can be a sponsor or volunteer, or just enjoy the sunshine and the spectacular views of the Golf Club at Newcastle, and then have a good time at the dinner and auction. KOMO TV News anchor Dan Lewis returns as the event’s master of ceremonies.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.; lunch and shotgun start are at noon. Proceeds from the event benefit Puget Sound Blood Center’s research program and provide scholarships for children to attend the Bleeding Disorder Foundation of Washington’s Camp I-VY, a summer camp for children living with various bleeding disorders. This year’s goal is $175,000.

To learn more about “Golf Gets In Your Blood” or to sign up, visit the Blood Center’s Web site, www.psbc.org. If your organization would like information on becoming a sponsor, please call Kim Clough at 206-292- 7070. Call Kim if you want to sign up as a golfer, too.

To volunteer and help make the event a success, please e-mail Jamie Lott at jlott@biorx.net.

For more information on the Bleeding Disorder Foundation of Washington, visit its Web site at www.bdfwa.org.

So even if you don’t know a pitching wedge from a wedge of cheddar, spend the day having fun and helping two worthy organizations.

400!
On the morning of Dec. 18, 2006, 87-year-old Arthur Siegal walked into the Blood Center’s Central Seattle Center for his 9 o’clock apheresis platelet donation.

It was his 65th platelet donation. Remarkable, especially when coupled with his 335 whole blood donations, making that sunny winter morning the occasion of Siegal’s 400th donation.

Blood Center Medical Director Thomas Price, M.D., and Chief Operating Officer D. Michael Strong dropped by the donor room to congratulate Siegal on his milestone, and the Blood Collection Services staff surprised him with a cake to commemorate the occasion.

Two years ago, the Blood Center honored Siegal with a volunteer achievement award for his lifetime donations. Aside from being a blood donor extraordinaire, he is a trustee emeritus of the Seattle Community College District, where the administrative center bears his name.

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