• Annual Summer Blood Shortage Triggers Nationwide Appeal for Donors

• Department of Nursing Offers Recruitment Program

• Committee Undertakes Search For New Jefferson Medical College Dean

Annual Summer Blood Shortage Triggers Nationwide Appeal for Donors
The annual summer blood shortage at area donor centers is now severe enough to trigger a nationwide appeal for blood by the American Red Cross.

Louise Taylor, Blood Donor Coordinator at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital's Blood Donor Center, says blood supplies are at their lowest levels in recent memory.

Ms. Taylor cites the appeal for donors issued by the American Red Cross Blood Services, Penn-Jersey Region office, based in Philadelphia.

The Red Cross appeal states that doctors and hospitals in southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey are unable to get all the blood they order for patients.

"Hospitals in our area have been operating without enough blood all summer and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel," says the Red Cross.

Any employee in good health can donate every 56 days, so if you haven't given blood recently, now is a good time to do so.

Please call 215-955-7791 to schedule an appointment or to ask any questions.

Why does blood run low in the summer?
"Two main reasons," says Ms. Taylor.

"First, with people being outside and active, there are many more accidents in the summer. All kinds of accidents drain blood supplies - swimming, diving, boating and athletic injuries in addition to auto and other accidents."

"Then, there are fewer donors, because people are on vacation or otherwise preoccupied."

Extreme weather swings also reduce blood supplies, Ms. Taylor adds. "People don't donate when it's too hot, or when it's too cold."

The blood shortage in the Northeast is so acute some of the blood transfused in Philadelphia is shipped from the West, Ms. Taylor adds.

Remember: All employees who donate blood are entitled to two hours off each time they give.

The Blood Donor Center is located at 8230 Gibbon Building and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours can be extended for groups or departments who want to donate after hours.

Department of Nursing Offers Recruitment Program
Due to high level of demand that exists for nurses and Jefferson's expanding activity, the Department of Nursing at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is implementing two bonus award programs to encourage and facilitate the recruitment of qualified and experienced nurses for designated vacancies.

The first program is an employee referral bonus program. This program provides a financial incentive to eligible employees who refer full and part-time RN applicants to the hospital. These applicants must be subsequently recruited and hired to receive the bonus.

The second program, a $5,000 sign-on bonus award, will facilitate recruiting and retaining qualified and experienced nurses for designated vacancies offering bonus referrals.

A list of qualified vacancies is maintained in the employment office and can be found by:

• Accessing the job opportunities web site (employment.tju.edu)

• Calling the job hotline at 215-503-8313

• Checking the printed job postings. For more information about the bonus programs, please contact Mary Marczyk, RN, MSN, Nurse Recruiter, at 215-503-8610 or Linda Mitchell, Employment Manager, at 215-503-6169.

Committee Undertakes Search For New Jefferson Medical College Dean
The Chairman of the University Board of Trustees has appointed a search committee for the new Dean of Jefferson Medical College (JMC), chaired by Board member Mr. James Ksansnak.

In addition to Mr. Ksansnak, committee members are:
Ronald J. Bolognese, MD, Thomas M. Butler, PhD, Robert L. Capizzi, MD, Donald C. Dafoe, MD, Barbara G. Frieman, MD, Thomas J. Lewis, Gerald Litwack, PhD, Josephine C. Mandeville, Peter M. Mattoon, Esq., Thomas B. Morris Jr., Esq., Douglas S. Peters, Roy Proujansky, MD, Stanton N. Smullens, MD, Douglas J. MacMaster Jr., Esq., ex officio, Paul C. Brucker, MD, ex officio.

In its first meeting the Committee outlined the specific position criteria and required professional accomplishments for candidates. The committee will meet regularly until the position is filled.

If you have any comments regarding the search process, suggestions for the committee's consideration, or nominees for the position, please contact any committee member directly or send your suggestions to the President's Office, 641 Scott Building.

News Briefs | Photo Album | Calendar | Announcements | Notables