The “Dr. Charles Drew Lifesaver Award” is an annual recognition awarded to a RIBC partner who brings awareness to the need for diverse blood donations
RHODE ISLAND – Today, Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC) awarded Dr. Patrick McGann and his clinic team at the Brown University Health Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center with the “Dr. Charles Drew Lifesaver Award” in honor of Black History Month. The award was presented during a Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s blood drive.
The “Dr. Charles Drew Lifesaver Award” is presented annually to a RIBC partner who brings awareness to the need for diverse blood donors. Dr. Charles Drew is known as one of the founders of modern blood banking. He was the first African American to earn a Doctor of Medical Science degree from Columbia University and went on to work as a physician, surgeon, and researcher. Dr. Drew’s work during World War II helped medics save thousands of Allied forces’ lives and led to the technology and practices used by the nation’s first blood banks and bloodmobiles.
Over the past year, Dr. McGann and his team have partnered with the RIBC Donor Recruitment team by joining at high school presentations and college group meetings to educate students on Sickle Cell Disease and the vital role blood donors have in patient care. This collaboration has opened new opportunities for us to engage with schools and has provided a powerful perspective to our donor recruitment practices. In presentations, they help emphasize the need for diverse donors and how their contributions can help save lives within their own communities.
Diverse blood donations are critical for patients who require specific blood types for transfusions. Patients with sickle cell disease, an inherited red cell disorder that is most common among African Americans, require very closely matched blood products because their bodies make antibodies directed towards transfused red blood cells.
“Blood transfusion is an essential and lifesaving treatment for patients everyday across our hospital system,” said Dr. Patrick McGann. “Individuals living with sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder, require at least one and often many blood transfusions to prevent life-threatening complications of this condition. At Brown University Health, we provide care for approximately 300 individuals with sickle cell disease. In order to provide these transfusions for our population in Rhode Island, we require at least 2-3 blood donors every day. Our work, recognized through this prestigious award, is to expand and diversify the pool of blood donors to improve the lives of our sickle cell population.”
“Dr. McGann’s dedication to improving health equity and advocating for diverse blood donations has created a lasting impact at Brown University Health and beyond,” said Caitlin Grimaldi-Flick, Marketing and Communications Manager. “This Black History Month, we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Charles Drew, whose innovative work transformed modern blood banking and saved countless lives. Rhode Island Blood Center is proud to recognize Dr. McGann with the Dr. Charles Drew Lifesaver Award, a well-deserved tribute to his exceptional leadership.”