Camille Howell, R.N. and Thomas Price, M.D.

Newsline (Spring 2004)

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Represented at World Apheresis Association
Puget Sound Blood Center’s Camille Howell, R.N., of the Patient Services Department, traveled to Paris, France in early September to deliver a presentation at the 9th Congress of the World Apheresis Association (WAA). Her presentation involved a poster she produced concerning a unique catheter used in pheresis on a woman with sickle cell anemia. Patient Services performs monthly red blood cell exchanges to prevent acute exacerbation in patients with this disease.

Blood Center Medical Director Thomas Price, M.D., presided over the event in his last official duty as WAA president, a position he had held since July 2000. At the Paris Congress, Dr. Price delivered a talk on granulocyte collection using the drug G-CSF, which stimulates the marrow to increase a patient’s or donor’s white blood count.

heyBarnee! Meets the Challenge
Nearly 200 guests and 144 players converged on August 11 and 12 for a successful two-day heyBarnee! Golf and Auction Challenge. The event, held at the Glendale Country Club in Bellevue, Washington, raised nearly $78,000 for Pat’s Fund in support of Puget Sound Blood Center’s research programs.

Returning sponsors, including Aventis Behring Pharmaceuticals, Banner Bank, Bowen Scarff Ford and TIAA-CREF, joined title sponsor Baxter Healthcare Corporation, and new backers Roche Molecular, Phil Smart Mercedes, Abbott Laboratories and Columbia Bank in pledging their commitment to raise awareness and money for the cause.

An addition to this third annual event was the participation of the NFL Players Association’s Retired Players Organization. Seattle chapter president and former Seahawk wide receiver, Sam McCullum, joined former NFL teammates, former University of Washington football coach Don James and other local celebrities to participate.

Thanks to the event sponsors, the Pat’s Fund advisory board and numerous volunteers, the heyBarnee! Golf and Auction Challenge is helping the Blood Center uncover the causes, new treatments and ultimately cures for autoimmune and blood diseases.

Veteran Blood Center Researcher Also “One of the Best Physicians”
Arthur R. Thompson, M.D., Ph.D., director ofhemophilia care and hemostasis laboratories at Puget Sound Blood Center, was named “one of the area’s best physicians” in the Sept. 2002 issue of Seattle Magazine.

The publication listed Dr. Thompson as one of the top physicians “as selected by their peers” in the medical oncology and hematology category.

Dr. Thompson earned his medical and doctorate degrees from the University of Washington, where he is a professor of medicine. With the Blood Center for 28 years, he was named to his current director post in 1987. Dr. Thompson’s research is examining the structure-function relationships of factor VIII and intrinsic system clotting and gene therapy for all forms of hemophilia.

Blood Center Videos Lauded
Puget Sound Blood Center recently won honors at the 23rd Annual Telly Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements in non-network and cable television commercials. The awards committee cited two Blood Center videos for their high standards of excellence.

An Act of Love, produced to increase blood donations among ethnic minorities, took a prestigious Silver Award. Featuring local people like Laurel and Leslie Coaston (left), the five-minute video is an important component of the Blood Center’s educational Rare Donor Program, which has helped increase blood donation among people of color by 44 percent.

"Thank You", a video homage to those who gave blood after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on America, garnered a Bronze Award.

Donor Crossing
Leading the fifth annual Donor Party Crossing was Scott Leopold (right), founder of the yearly outing that raises awareness and blood donations.

On Aug. 11, eleven swimmers and seven boaters joined him in Lake Washington for the 2 1/4-mile adventure. Participants challenged the public to match their cumulative blood donation total – 698 units!

Running (and Walking) for Research
With the end of summer came a new beginning of sorts for Puget Sound Blood Center.

Nearly 2,000 runners and walkers marked Labor Day with an old local tradition – by participating in the 2002 Super Jock ‘n Jill Half Marathon and Fun Run/Walk in Woodinville, Washington. But this year, the event had a new purpose — to benefit Puget Sound Blood Center.

The partnership with specialty athletic store Super Jock ‘n Jill increased awareness of and raised funds for the Blood Center’s research programs. Many registered runners and walkers, including Blood Center staff, raced in support of the Blood Center’s autoimmune and platelet research.

Radio stations KOMO-AM and KING-FM featured training tips by Super Jock ‘n Jill’s fitness experts, KOMO-TV produced a promotional commercial, and ads appeared on Clear Channel’s billboards and Viacom’s transit signs around Seattle and the Eastside. The Blood Center also had an information booth at training runs during the summer. In addition, a special registration party at the Redhook Brewery in Woodinville provided party attendees and registrants with information about the Blood Center’s research efforts.

As many runners did, the joint effort got off to a good start; the event raised more than $6,000 and made thousands of area residents – active and sedentary alike – aware that Puget Sound Blood Center is much more than their local blood bank.

“Winning for Life” Scores with Blood Donors
In tribute to the nearly 6,000 people in Western Washington who gave blood the week of Sept. 11, 2002, the Seattle Seahawks hosted a “Winning for Life” blood and marrow registration drive at Seahawks Stadium a day before the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America.


In a spacious area overlooking the playing field at Seahawks Stadium, 312 donors came out to help during the Sept. 10 “Winning for Life” blood drive.

“There were a lot of heroes in the aftermath of Sept. 11,” said Washington Governor Gary Locke, “including those who gave blood.”

Locke joined Puget Sound Blood Center President Richard B. Counts, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, Seattle City Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske, Fire Chief Gary Morris and others in a short program honoring those who died and those who gave blood. Also on hand was Randy Yamanaka, the Seattle Police sergeant whose letter to Locke was the catalyst for the governor to sign an executive order granting state employees time off to give blood and donate bone marrow.


Among those at Seahawks Stadium Sept. 10 paying tribute to blood donors were (from left) Gov. Gary Locke, Mayor Greg Nickels, Blood Center President Richard B. Counts and Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske.

After remarks and a video entitled, Thank You, 312 people registered to give blood and 87 signed up for the marrow registry during the daylong drive.