Dr. Mark Popovsky Appointed to Panel on Blood Transfusion Services in Support of President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers BRAINTREE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2004 Dr. Mark Popovsky, Vice President and Corporate Medical Director for Haemonetics Corporation, has been appointed to a special panel that is assisting in developing and implementing blood safety programs in 14 countries in Africa and the Caribbean, the Company announced today. As part of the initiative Dr. Popovsky traveled to Nigeria to assess their needs for blood transfusion blood transfusion, transfer of blood from one person to another, or from one animal to another of the same species. Transfusions are performed to replace a substantial loss of blood and as supportive treatment in certain diseases and blood disorders. systems, including infrastructure, blood collection, blood testing, transfusion and blood utilization, training, and monitoring and evaluation. After the assessments are complete, the panel is responsible for assisting in development of a blood safety implementation plan for each country, providing ongoing technical assistance on the operational plans, and evaluating the overall success of the programs. The program is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. . In developed countries, blood and blood donors are extensively screened to ensure blood safety, and the blood industry now claims the safest blood supply ever. However, other countries often do not have comprehensive transfusion systems in place and much of the blood is unsafe for patients. The World Health Organization estimates that 5-10% of all HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. transmissions in underdeveloped countries are attributable to unsafe blood transfusions. Additionally, other serious diseases, such as hepatitis, are commonly transmitted through unsafe transfusions. So providing assistance to ensure a safe and adequate blood supply in underdeveloped countries is an important aspect of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Executive Summary of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief(1) An important aspect of President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is to provide assistance to ensure a safe and adequate blood supply. The focus of this initiative is 14 countries in Africa and the Caribbean heavily affected by HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome : Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Haiti, Guyana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. , Tansania, Uganda, and Zambia. The purpose of (the Government's) announcement is to rapidly provide support to the Ministries of Health or the Governments' National Transfusion Services in the 14 targeted countries, with the goal of developing and implementing a national safe blood program with demonstrable results within the first year of the Emergency Plan. Specific activities include implementation of blood safety programs, including management, operations, and monitoring. About Dr. Mark Popovsky Dr. Popovsky's expertise includes extensive experience in anatomic and clinical pathology clinical pathology n. 1. The practice of pathology as it pertains to the care of patients. 2. The subspecialty in pathology concerned with the theoretical and technical aspects of laboratory technology that pertain to the and transfusion medicine transfusion medicine Blood banking A subspecialty of clinical pathology or internal medicine which is involved in Pt management through administration of blood cells and blood products including fresh-frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate; TM specialists are versant in . Prior to joining Haemonetics, he was chief executive officer and chief medical officer in the New England New England, name applied to the region comprising six states of the NE United States—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The region is thought to have been so named by Capt. region for the American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. . He previously held the position of medical director of the American Red Cross New England Region from 1985-1996. Dr. Popovsky also served as director of transfusion and intravenous services at the Mayo Clinic from 1981-1985, where he received his training in transfusion medicine and blood banking. Currently, Dr. Popovsky is clinical professor of laboratory medicine at Boston University Medical School and associate clinical professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University. It is a prestigious American medical school located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. and Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center in Boston. He has authored, or co-authored, over 300 publications in transfusion medicine and pathology. Dr. Popovsky serves on the editorial board of five journals. (1) As reported in the Federal Register, Vol. 68, No. 230, page 67177-86. December 1, 2003. |
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