From the Desk Of:
Navy Capt. Roland Fahie, Director, ASBPO
 Greetings! Welcome to this edition of Focal Point. I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who attended our workshop at the AABB Annual Meeting last month. My personal thanks to our staff members who made it successful, thank you! It was a great, informative session, and I am proud of the Service Blood Program officers and joint blood program officers who participated.
In this issue, we take a closer look at our AABB workshop, provide a sneak peek at the 2015 Army-Navy Blood Donor Challenge and thank a long-time staff member who is retiring after more than 25 years with the military blood program.
The holiday season is officially here. As we begin the holiday celebrations, I want everyone to have a safe Thanksgiving. Be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Report all activities that appear suspicious. I would also like to thank all donors, volunteers and staff members for their tireless dedication to the Armed Services Blood Program. The need for blood does not stop over the winter, so we will continue to rely on volunteer donors to ensure we maintain a blood supply for our service members. Make the connection this holiday, donate blood. Without your efforts, we would not be able to save thousands of lives every year. So thank you for what you do. You are the Armed Services Blood Program. Respectfully, Capt. Roland Fahie |
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Military Blood Program Presents at 2015 AABB Annual Meeting
The military blood program conducted a session at the 2015 AABB Annual Meeting Oct. 24 in Anaheim, Calif. The session featured a keynote speech from Brig. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, Deputy Chief of Staff, G3/5/7, and updates from all of the ASBP's Service Blood Program Offices, joint blood program officers and program managers. Learn more.
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2015 Army-Navy Blood Donor Challenge Underway in D.C., MD and VA
 The 2015 ASBP Army-Navy Blood Donor Challenge is officially underway in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. This year, the ASBP will conduct 11 blood drives all across the Washington metro area Nov. 10 to Dec. 8. Learn more.
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The Storm Abroad: Anesthesiology During Wartime
Part II: Giving Blood on the Battlefield
 Every five seconds in the United States, an anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist will transfuse blood to a patient. It's a critical part of our training and a routine part of the care that we provide to patients every day. Read more.
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No Uniform Required
The ASBP Focal Point civilian hero of the month
 After more than 25 years, Ms. Odessa "Cookie" Mark is retiring. She has been a member of the ASBP team since 1990. Over the course of her career, she has touched hundreds of lives -- both military and civilian -- who work in the trenches on a daily basis. Read more. |
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Picture This!
The ASBP Focal Point picture of the month
Seaman James Wilson, a hospitalman and a laboratory technician from U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, is presented a letter of appreciation from Navy Lt. Lenae Pecenka, director of the USPACOM Armed Services Blood Bank Center, for donating a half gallon of blood. Wilson is a regular blood donor who is part of the ASBBC's "Baby Blood Brigade," a small pool of O-negative donors who provide blood for neonatal intensive care unit patients at the hospital.
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