Introduction to Transfusion and Apheresis Medicine Elective

Director: Chester Andrzejewski, PhD, MD 

Location: Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA

Goals

This rotation is designed as an introduction to the clinical consultative areas of transfusion medicine diagnostics, hemotherapy, and apheresis medicine.  This elective will be of interest not only to students considering careers in pathology, but is also of benefit to students with plans for training in other medical/surgical specialties.

Upon completion of this rotation the student will have a greater appreciation for the complexities of transfusion therapy today, and a better understanding of the major issues of interest to both patients and donors.

Objectives

The student will...

• gain exposure to various facets of current transfusion practices including the indications/contraindications of various blood products, the work-up of patients with complex immuno-serologic problems, and issues involved in the collection of both allogeneic (volunteer) and autologous (for self use) blood.
• participate in the management of a very active hospital-based donor center with a mobile blood collection component and a therapeutic hemapheresis service that supports a variety of medical and surgical specialties.
• receive an introduction to the concept of biovigilance as it relates to enhancing the safety of hemotherapy and tissue medicine/cellular therapies.
• experience a limited core laboratory rotation that stresses basic immunohematologic techniques and assigned readings from the primary and secondary medical literature dealing with transfusion medicine clinical practice issues.

If you would like to apply for this elective, please refer to Application Process.