FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Richard B. Counts, MD, Puget Sound Blood Center, to Retire as President and CEO

Pioneer in Hemophilia Research and Treatment to End 35 Year Tenure at the Blood Center

APRIL, 1 2008, SEATTLE — Richard B. Counts, MD, president and CEO, Puget Sound Blood Center, today announced his intention to retire August 31, 2008. The public announcement follows succession planning by the Blood Center’s Board of Trustees as Dr. Counts completes thirty-five years of Blood Center leadership.

Dr. Counts has been president of the Puget Sound Blood Center since 1987. He joined the Blood Center in 1973 as co-director of the Hemophilia Program. His subsequent positions within the organization include Assistant Director from 1973 to 1979; Director of the Coagulation Reference Laboratory from 1973 to 1987; Associate Director in 1979; and later that year, he became Managing Director.

Before joining the Blood Center, Dr. Counts took his medical internship and residency at the University of Washington Hospital, and then served as a clinical associate in the hematology branch of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. There, he undertook research in platelet function and blood coagulation.

In 1972 Dr. Counts returned to the University of Washington from the National Institute of Health to launch a research program dedicated to hemophilia.  Upon joining the Puget Sound Blood Center, he moved his research lab to the Blood Center where the hemophilia program became a joint effort with the university.  For over 35 years his leadership in this area has lead to life-saving treatments and comprehensive care for patients with congenital bleeding disorders.  That research and patient care resulted in a significantly lower mortality rate—13 percent—among the Blood Center’s hemophilia patients during the AIDS crisis, when the national average was 85 – 90 percent in clinics using commercial freeze-dried, pooled concentrates rather than volunteer donor cryoprecipitate. 

Additionally, the hemophilia program has a data base of records stretching back to the early 70’s with extensive data concerning bleeding, treatments, musculoskeletal function, x-rays, and so forth—itself a significant resource for continued research.

“Dr. Counts is a true innovator whose contributions will continue to impact the treatment and understanding of hemophilia and other blood disorders for years to come,” said Barbara C. Sherland, Chair, Puget Sound Blood Center Board of Trustees. “His dedication to blood research, this community and the employees and volunteers of the Blood Center has shepherded this organization through 35 years of immense change and growth with grace, humility and steadfastness.
On behalf of the Puget Sound Blood Center Board of Trustees, we want to thank Dr. Counts for his outstanding leadership."

An announcement regarding a new Blood Center CEO will be forthcoming in the coming weeks.

About Puget Sound Blood Center
Puget Sound Blood Center is an independent, community-based blood center with a long and unique tradition of blending community volunteerism, medical science and research to improve patients’ lives. Patients with leukemia, cancer, burns, hemophilia and traumatic injuries depend on the breakthrough discoveries made by Blood Center scientists. Internationally recognized as a leader in transfusion medicine, the Blood Center operates the world's largest transfusion service, serves patients in more that 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 Western Washington counties and provides tissue and transplantation support to 185 hospitals across the Northwest.

If you have any questions please contact Michael Young at 206-292-6589 or pager 206-540-6189.

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