Specialist in Blood Bank Technology and Transfusion Medicine Program

• In person, face to face one year program (January – December), taught by leaders in the field
• One of the few schools offering a student stipend, benefits, and does NOT charge any tuition
• Hours are primarily Monday through Friday day shift with no weekend or holiday coverage at one of the largest blood centers in the world
• Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) www.caahep.org upon the recommendation of the AABB www.aabb.org.
• A certificate is awarded to graduates of the program, which allows the graduates to sit for the Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) examination given by ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology) www.ascp.org.
• Students successfully completing this program and SBB exam will be prepared to assume positions in administration, management/supervision, clinical research, or teaching in a hospital, blood center, governmental agency, or health care related industry

• US citizen or eligible to work in the United States
• Valid CLS license from the State of California (preferred) or eligible for CLS licensure
• Preference given to those with at least three years of full-time Blood Bank experience

Applicants to the program must submit the following to Catherine.Hernandez@redcross.org for consideration:

• Resume or CV listing pertinent experience and education
• Copy of California CLS license (or evidence of eligibility)
• Copy of 4 year baccalaureate degree. Academic work completed at colleges and universities outside of the USA require transcript evaluation by an ASCP acceptable evaluation agency.
• At least two letters of recommendation including one from current employer.
• A short essay of applicant’s goals for applying to the program
• Applications should be received by October 1 prior to the start of the program.
• Successful applicants must meet American Red Cross Blood Services employment requirements including a background check and drugs of abuse screening.

Students in the program are paid employees of American Red Cross Blood Services and are entitled to medical, dental and life insurance coverage. Students accrue paid time off (PTO) on a monthly basis and are granted paid holidays.

The blood center is a new 201,000 square foot building located on the campus of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Students have access to campus amenities including housing, a fee-based health club, outdoor swimming pool, campus bookstore and restaurants. There is a Transfusion Medicine library within the blood center that includes access for staff and students to the UCLA School of Medicine library.

The blood center is freeway close to many southland communities and a reasonable drive to beaches, mountain ski resorts and southern California’s theme parks. Airport service is very near via Ontario Airport.

George Garratty, PhD, FRC Path
Program Director

George Garratty, PhD, FRCPath, is Scientific Director, American Red Cross Blood Services, Southern California Region, and Clinical Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. His research is mainly concerned with immune red cell and platelet destruction. In addition to being honored with numerous international, national and regional awards, Garratty has published more than 300 (240 in peer reviewed journals) papers, is co-author of three textbooks, and editor of six textbooks.

Joy L. Fridey, MD
Program Medical Director

Joy L. Fridey, MD, completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, and did her transfusion medicine fellowship at the American Red Cross in Southern California. Her career in Transfusion Medicine spans more than twenty years, and includes experience in community blood centers and hospital transfusion services. In addition, she has served as medical director of FACT-accredited hematopoietic progenitor cell collection facilities and one of the largest stem cell processing laboratories in the United States. She also has experience in pediatric transfusion medicine and both adult and pediatric therapeutic apheresis. She has served on numerous AABB and California Blood Bank Society committees, and on the Board of Directors of both organizations. She has lectured on a wide range of transfusion medicine and blood banking topics, and recently received the AABB President’s Award for her participation in the AABB/CDC Biovigilance Program.

Kate Hernandez, MT(ASCP)SBB
Education Coordinator

Kate Hernandez, MT(ASCP)SBB, has over 20 years of experience in blood banking and transfusion medicine including several years of teaching and education experience. She is a member of AABB and the California Blood Bank Society (CBBS). She is an AABB Transfusion Service Assessor and is on the CBBS Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) committee. She is a graduate of the American Red Cross Southern California Specialist in Blood Bank Technology and Transfusion Medicine program.