Grant Establishes Fellowship in Non-Malignant Blood Disorders
WNY BloodCare Parners with UB to Address Shortage of Specialists in Complex Bleeding and Thrombotic Disorders
Western New York BloodCare, formerly known as the Hemophilia Center of Western New York, has awarded the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences a second grant to address a shortage of physicians in the region who specialize in treating non-malignant blood disorders.
The $675,000 grant establishes the Rosemary “Penny” Holmberg Hemostasis and Thrombosis Clinical Fellowship in nonmalignant hematology at UB. The grant provides one to two years of training in advanced medical management of patients with complex bleeding and thrombotic disorders.
An earlier grant for $890,000 established the Robert Long Career Development Award, which invests in a junior physician-scientist dedicated to conducting advanced research, facilitating training for medical professionals, and providing expert care to local patients and families experiencing these disorders.
“We are very grateful for this continued support from Western New York BloodCare,” said Michael E. Cain, M.D., Vice President for Health Sciences and Dean of the Jacobs School. “These grants are targeted investments that address specialty care gaps in our community. By strategically partnering with UB to close these gaps, Western New York BloodCare is helping to assure that patients in our community with non-malignant blood disorders will have access to care provided by highly qualified physician-scientists who also will train the next generation of specialists,” said Dr. Cain.
In Western New York, as in many parts of the country, there is an acute need for hematologists who are trained and skilled in the management of complex bleeding and thrombotic disorders, as well as in state-of-the-art clinical and translational investigation.
“Multiple factors contribute to this shortage, including a scarcity of training programs, salary disparities, and limited availability of experienced mentors,” explains Laurie Reger, Executive Director of Western New York BloodCare. “Yet in the Greater Buffalo area, we are fortunate,” she says. “With full-service bleeding and clotting disorders care available through Western New York BloodCare, and an academic health center anchored by the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, our organizations are uniquely positioned to form a philanthropic partnership that can work together to build and retain highly trained physicians focused on providing the highest quality care to individuals with hemophilia and non-malignant hematologic disorders.”
Beverly Schaefer; Pediatric Hematology Oncology;
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, UB
The Hemostasis and Thrombosis Fellowship Program will be integrated into the hematology/oncology program at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training programs at UB and Roswell Park. Beverly Schaefer, M.D., clinical assistant professor of pediatrics in the Jacobs School and attending pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Roswell Park Oishei Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Program, will serve as program director.
