I’m afraid of needles. I was the kid who had to be pinned down any time my pediatrician gave me a shot. I never considered donating blood and now I can’t imagine ever not doing it. I’ve been both a recipient and a donor. In 2011 and 2012, I had two periacetabular osteotomies at Stanford…

Donating blood has become part of the rhythm of Eileen and Michael Consiglio’s lives, and something they share together. The couple, who regularly donate at our South Bay center, recently reached their 100th whole blood donation, an incredible milestone reflecting years of dedication and generosity.  Both Eileen and Michael have been longtime donors. Eileen recalls…

For nearly five decades, Tom Scoles has been part of the community of donors at Stanford Blood Center. What started as a simple act during high school has grown into a lifelong commitment to helping patients in need. Recently, that commitment led to an unforgettable reward: a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the biggest game in football…

For 22 years, I’ve worked for Stanford Blood Center (SBC), but my personal connection to blood banking goes far beyond that and crosses generations. I was born in 1980 with Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA), a rare inherited bone marrow failure syndrome characterized by a lack of production of red blood cells, which can require chronic…

At Stanford Blood Center, we often hear from patients whose lives have been touched by the generosity of blood donors. We recently heard from Chana Sandberg, who, after experiencing a sudden health crisis while on blood thinners, found herself in urgent need of a transfusion. Her journey from patient to hopeful donor is a powerful…

Dr. Tamara Dunn is a Clinical Associate Professor of Hematology at the Stanford School of Medicine, Associate Chair of Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Medicine, and a practicing hematologist at the Palo Alto VA. In this conversation, she shares insights into her clinical work, her passion for mentoring the next generation of medical...

Growing up in a small rural town in Texas, blood drives at Bláz Bush’s high school were a community event. Students were eager to participate, perhaps because it meant skipping class and enjoying free cookies. But for Bláz, these events were filled with a sense of unease. Students often made jokes and disparaging remarks about…

Stanford Blood Center’s own Melissa Lichauco has been given an extraordinary opportunity to continue her late husband Anthony’s legacy by participating in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Visionaries of the Year campaign. This campaign is not only about fundraising; it’s about bringing hope to families fighting blood cancers and fueling the research necessary to…

At Stanford Blood Center (SBC), we’re proud to celebrate the compassion and community spirit of our youngest donors through the launch of our brand-new Red Cord Program. Introduced this year, the program was created to re-engage high school students in blood donation efforts following the challenges of the pandemic—and to recognize their lifesaving contributions in a…

Since 2007, Jaime Eredia has been the driving force behind the Stanford School of Engineering’s blood drives by organizing and promoting them, and often rolling up his own sleeve to donate. But as Jaime prepares to retire from his role as the blood drive coordinator, he leaves a lasting impact on the lives of countless patients in…

Some people donate blood once or twice in their lives. Others make it a regular habit. And then there’s Eric Steger. His passion for giving has led him to explore a variety of opportunities to help patients in need. From stem cells to solid organ donations, plus an incredible 200 blood donations (and counting), Eric’s…

Black History Month is a time to reflect on the extraordinary contributions of Black scientists and medical professionals whose innovations have shaped modern medicine. From groundbreaking discoveries in transfusion medicine to pioneering research in immunology and pathology, these individuals represent a small fraction of the contributions of Black scientists and innovators who have left an...