Awards

2026 President’s Award Winner:

Dr. Daryl J. Kor, MD, MSc

This year’s recipient is Daryl J. Kor, MD, MSc, Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Mayo Clinic Rochester

Dr. Daryl J. Kor is a leading expert in transfusion medicine and patient blood management, with a distinguished career in clinical research, policy development, and innovation in blood utilization strategies. As Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Dr. Kor has spearheaded numerous initiatives focused on optimizing transfusion practices and improving outcomes for critically ill and surgical patients. His research has been instrumental in identifying transfusion-associated risks, including transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) and transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO), shaping evidence-based transfusion guidelines. He has served as a principal investigator on NIH-funded studies, including work on risk prediction models for transfusion-related complications and strategies to minimize unnecessary blood transfusions. His contributions have led to advancements in point-of-care RBC washing, restrictive transfusion protocols, and predictive analytics for transfusion safety.

Dr. Kor’s leadership in Patient Blood Management (PBM) extends to his roles with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists (SOCCA), and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), where he has co-chaired national meetings on transfusion safety and blood conservation strategies. As a recognized authority in the field, he has advised federal agencies, led multi-center transfusion studies, and developed data-driven approaches to improving perioperative and critical care transfusion practices. At Mayo Clinic, his work has shaped institutional transfusion policies through his leadership of the Mayo Clinic Transfusion Committee and his role in developing informatics-driven solutions for blood management. His efforts continue to influence national and international best practices, ensuring safer, more effective blood utilization in critical care and perioperative medicine.

2026 Kathleen J. Sazama Award Winners:

Neil Blumberg, MD and Joanna Heal, MBBS, MRCP

Neil Blumberg, MD

Neil Blumberg, MD, is Director of the Transfusion Medicine Division and Blood Bank at University of Rochester Medical Center, a position he has held since 1980. A Yale University graduate with a BS and MD, Dr. Blumberg completed residency training in laboratory medicine, hematology, and blood banking at Yale New Haven Hospital. His clinical expertise spans transfusion immunology, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, autoimmune thrombocytopenia, and supportive care for stem cell and solid organ transplantation. Dr. Blumberg is particularly known for his research into transfusion immunomodulation and his development of minimally invasive techniques including leukoreduction, autologous transfusions, and cell washing to reduce transfusion side effects and improve patient outcomes.

Joanna Heal, MBBS, MRCP

Dr. Joanna Heal, MBBS, MRCP, is a retired physician who served as Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine in the Hematology Department at the University of Rochester and spent nearly 30 years as Associate Medical Director of the American Red Cross Blood Program of the NY-Penn Region. A graduate of Kings College London and Westminster Medical School, Dr. Heal obtained her MRCP with the highest score in England in 1969. Her extensive training included general medicine, chest diseases, rheumatology, neurology, hematology, oncology, and transfusion medicine. Dr. Heal pioneered early stem cell collection protocols using pheresis technology, established the Rochester National Marrow Donor Program, and was instrumental in launching the first autologous peripheral blood transplant and bone marrow transplant programs in Rochester.

Collaborative work

Together, Dr. Blumberg and Dr. Heal have conducted landmark research redefining the immunologic effects of ABO-identical transfusions. Their work revealed that ABH-incompatible platelet transfusions generate large immune complexes that attach to platelets and trigger refractoriness, a mechanism previously unrecognized. By combining leukoreduction, ABO-identical transfusions, and washing techniques, they reduced five-year mortality in younger leukemia patients from 50% to 20% and decreased platelet refractoriness incidence to nearly zero at Strong Memorial Hospital. Their evidence-based strategies have also minimized transfusion reactions, TRALI, TACO, alloimmunization, and thrombotic complications, establishing a new standard for safe and effective transfusion practice.

2026 Volunteer Leadership Award Winner:

Nadia Hensley, MD