WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- America's Blood Centers (ABC) announced today that retired Colonel G. Michael Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., former director of the U.S. Armed Services Blood Programs Office, has been named Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Dr. Fitzpatrick joined ABC in September 2003 as Chief Policy Officer.
As ABC's Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Fitzpatrick will work with staff and volunteer committees, be responsible for executing the ABC's goals and objectives, programs and projects and assure the prompt and effective implementation of policies, programs and plans approved by the Board of Directors as directed by the CEO. He will also retain his duties as Chief Policy Officer. These duties include outreach to federal regulators, advocacy efforts on behalf of our members, and directing all national policy development and research affairs for the organization.
"We are pleased to announce that Dr. Fitzpatrick has accepted the position as ABC's Chief Operating Officer," said ABC CEO Jim MacPherson. "His exceptional management skills and his sterling reputation within the blood community are invaluable assets to our organization."
Dr. Fitzpatrick has nearly 30 years of blood banking and biomedical experience. Prior to joining ABC, he served as Director of the U.S. Armed Service Blood Program (1999- 2003). Also as part of his military career, his assignments included: Korea Area Blood Program Officer; United States European Command Blood Program Officer; Chief of the Blood Bank at Madigan Army Medical Center; Tripler Army Medical Center; and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also has served as the director of the Tri-Service Blood Bank Fellowship at Walter Reed.
Dr. Fitzpatrick is a member of the AABB Inter-Organizational Task Force on Disaster Response and the AABB FDA-Liaison Committee.
He obtained a BS degree in Biology from Colorado State University in 1975. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the 56th Medical Battalion, Fort Ord, Calif. He was subsequently assigned as the officer in charge of the blood donor center at Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga. blood banking became his primary interest and he went back to Walter Reed to attend the Tri-Service Blood Bank Fellowship Program graduating in 1981.
Founded in 1962, America's Blood Centers is North America's largest network of non-profit, community blood centers. Seventy-five blood centers operate more than 600 collection sites in 45 U.S. states and Quebec, Canada, and provide nearly half of the United States, and nearly one-quarter of Canada's volunteer donor blood supply. These centers serve more than 150 million people and provide blood products and services to more than 3,300 hospitals. ABC members are licensed and regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
America's Blood CentersCONTACT: Sharon Pavlovsky of America's Blood Centers, +1-202-654-2915,or spavlovsky@americasblood.org
Web site: http://www.americasblood.org/