Doctors that Donate

05/18/2012
By Jeffery Diffy, ASBP Blood Donor Recruiter, North Chicago, Ill.

Federal Health Care Center Lovell Blood Donor Processing Division phlebotomist Jessell Moore (left) assists Dr. Alison Murray (right, front) with her donation. Murry is part of a regular team of doctors that donate to the Armed Services Blood Program. Also donating is Dr. Dominic Paparella (center, back).

The staff members of the Lovell Federal Health Care Center work hard to make each and every Armed Services Blood Program blood drive successful. But even with the hustle and bustle required of them each day, some of the best donors the coming through the doors are the staff members themselves. In fact, there are doctors that donate at almost each one of the blood drives at the center.

For several years, Dr. David Rinaldi, a Great Lakes Hall of Fame gallon blood donor, has perfected the art of an early morning donation before making his way to take care of patients the remainder of the day. “Giving blood is a good thing to do,” said Rinaldi. “I feel euphoric every time I donate. It’s all good.”

Making time to donate isn’t always an easy task. In fact, the donating health care providers must often rearrange their schedules to make the trip to the blood drive. Once their donation is complete and they’ve snacked on their cookies and juice, the doctors are back to work seeing patients—and encouraging them to donate blood to the Armed Services Blood Program, of course.

Like, Rinaldi, Dr. Dominic Paparella has become a frequent donor as well. Since the first Federal Health Care Center blood drive last year, Paparella has already managed to complete four donations. "Donating blood gives us the satisfaction that we are helping some unknown patient somewhere,” said Paparella who is also a retired Navy captain. With his past military service career and continuing patient practice, Paparella knows how important blood donations are to someone in need.

No sooner do our doctors appear at the drive site and donate, do they return to treat patients. Most of these committed donors schedule the very first appointment available so their patients do not get inconvenienced in the process. Rinaldi and Paparella are truly examples of the level of excellence shown repeatedly at each blood drive by a group of seldom mentioned blood donors—doctors that donate!

To learn more about the Armed Services Blood Program or to schedule an appointment, please visit us online: www.militaryblood.dod.mil. To interact directly with some of our staff, see more photos or to get the latest news, visit us here: www.facebook.com/militaryblood, www.flickr.com/militaryblood and www.twitter.com/militaryblood.