Dr. Chantale Pambrun is an associate medical director at Canadian Blood Services, currently working at our Head Office in Ottawa. Previously she worked as the medical director of the laboratory at the IWK Health Centre – a women’s and children’s hospital in Halifax. While at IWK, Dr. Pambrun provided irradiated blood products for neonates and encountered the challenge of reducing donor exposure in neonates. Every unit of blood represents a donor exposure.

In this six-part series, Dr. Jeannie Callum, a hospital-based transfusion specialist, shares her real-life experience witnessing the impact of blood donation on patient lives. She provides some fascinating insight into blood transfusion, past and present, and emphasizes the need for male donors and why some donors may be safer for patients. Read the complete series here.

Paying it forward: Why we need YOU to give blood - Part 3 In this six-part series, Dr. Jeannie Callum, a hospital-based transfusion specialist, shares her real-life experience witnessing the impact of blood donation on patient lives. She provides some fascinating insight into blood transfusion, past...

By Lisa Bendall, Health Writer This feature article was originally published in the Canadian Journal of Medical Laboratory Science (CJMLS) in Summer 2016. The CJMLS is a publication of the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science. Please note that clarifications, updates and some additional...