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From the Desk of:
Col. Francisco Rentas, Director, ASBPO
 It is with a grateful heart, a sense of sadness, and utmost respect for what you do that I end my tour as the director of ASBPO and retire from The United States Army. I have been honored to be entrusted with the mission of directing a program that has been part of my life for more than 25 years. Along the way, I have been blessed with some irreplaceable friendships and memories. As I stated in my letter to you on November 1, 2008, our noble objective to care for and support those in need of blood products requires steadfast commitment and determination. Thank you for allowing me to be part of a passionate, enthusiastic, and very capable team!! I will miss your professional expertise and your friendship. I am most proud of your ability to deliver fresher blood to theater. Just this last week at the end of my presentation to the DoD Hemorrhage and Resuscitation Committee, a well known physician who has deployed three times, asked me to pass on to you his utmost appreciation for the outstanding blood support being provided in theater. He called the blood community "the silent community" who get things done behind the scenes. I couldn't think of a higher compliment to our community. From the dedicated staff here at home and around the world, to our donors and supporters, and those that we work with in the field of blood banking, I couldn't have asked for a more inspiring or more dedicated group of people to share my journey with. I wish you success, good health, and happiness in your future endeavors. It is at times like this that one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Seuss comes to mind: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Warmest wishes and a fond farewell. COL Francisco Rentas |
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'Golden Hour' Co-developer Reflects on 31 Years as a Soldier
One of the men who helped invent a "box" that could save lives on the battlefield joined the Army for "three years-tops." "That was 31 years ago," Rentas reflects with a smile, remembering what he said to his family gathered at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, on his way to basic training. "Everybody was crying, and I told them that it was for two or three years. I told them I would be back." A native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Army Col. Francisco Rentas had every intention of returning home to his parents, sister and brothers. Read the entire article on the ASBP website.
Photo: Col. Frank Rentas, then a lieutenant colonel and chief of the blood research center at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, preconditions the Golden Hour Human Blood Transport Container in 2003 at the center. (Courtesy
photo)
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ASBP Responds to Fort Hood and Haitian Tragedies
In November 2009, blood from all over Texas was used to help save the lives of those injured during the tragic Fort Hood shooting. Throughout the tragic time, the staff at the Robertson Blood Center worked tirelessly to ensure that blood products were available to treat those in need.(Read the entire article on the ASBP website.)
 When a devastating 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, the Armed Services Blood Program loaded up the USNS Comfort, a comprehensive medical ship, to do their part to ensure that survivor of the quake had the blood they needed and doctors had the supplies they needed to treat the patients. According
to Dr. Sean Hussey, director of the blood bank aboard the Comfort, more than 350 units of red blood cells were transfused aboard the ship. (Read the entire article on ASBP website.)
Photo: U.S. Navy personnel load Armed Services Blood Program blood units onto the USNS Comfort during its relief mission in Haiti.
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ASBP Debuts Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2009, at the Direction of COL Rentas, the Armed Services Blood Program Debuted its Lifetime Achievement Award and announced the first two recipients. Since it's creation, the Lifetime Achievement Award has recognized outstanding individuals in the blood banking field whose accomplishments have had a transformative effect on blood banking in the military. To date, the military blood program has recognized five individuals.
Find out more about the Lifetime Achievement Award and all of it's recipients by visiting us here. Read the entire article on the ASBP website. |
Picture This!
The ASBP Focal Point picture of the month  On July 24, 2012, our very own Col. Frank Rentas, director of the Armed Services Blood Program, was recognized by Maj. Matt Swingholm, director of the new Sullivan Memorial Blood Center at Fort Benning, Ga. After giving a speech at the opening ceremony, Swingholm recognized Rentas with an award for his "words of inspiration and wisdom" as well as his "continuous support of [the Sullivan Memorial Blood Center's] mission." But the Sullivan Memorial Blood Center wasn't the first facility that Col. Rentas was on hand to dedicate. On Jan. 22, 2010, the grand re-opening of the Pentagon Blood Donor Center was celebrated with an open house and presentation to an official whose work and dedication made it possible for the center to relocate and reopen at a new site. (Read the entire article on the opening of the Pentagon Blood Donor Center on the ASBP website). Image: Col. Frank Rentas (left) director of the Armed Services Blood Program, accepts an award of appreciation from Maj. Matt Swingholm (right), director of the Sullivan Memorial Blood Center at Fort Benning, Ga.
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Checkin' in with the:
Armed Services Blood Program Office: New DoD Information Management System, Fresher Blood to Theater, Social Media Unleashed
During the tenure of Col. Rentas, the Armed Services Blood Program gained
Approval to replace their current blood management system with a system that
will improve efficiency and safety, stay current with regulatory requirements,
and provide global access to information and reports. Working closely with
the services they managed to reduce the time it takes for blood products to get
to theater in order to deliver fresher blood to theater.
In addition, the program took great strides forward with not only gaining efficiencies, but with how the program reaches out and connects with its loyal following of donors.
In 2009, the Armed Services Blood Program introduced its first form of
social media outreach--Facebook and Twitter. When the positive feedback
started pouring in, the military blood program continued to find ways for
donors to keep up-to-date on news, blood drives and their local blood donor
centers.
Facebook and Twitter was followed shortly by the Armed Services Blood
Program's YouTube channel. And in 2012, the program added two more social media outlets--Flickr and Pinterest.
All social media networks have proven to be a valuable tool to keep in touch
with donors. If you haven't done so already, check out one of our sites,
share your stories, and let us know what you think. After all, in today's
world, staying in touch is just a few mouse clicks away.
To interact directly with some of our staff, see more photos or to get the latest news, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and Pinterest!
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 | | ASBP Featured Video |
Sailors donate blood during a mobile blood drive conducted by the Naval Medical Center San Diego. Thanks to Navy.mil for the wonderful video!
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