Meet Our Consultants

Griffin has led hundreds of personnel while serving in various laboratory, donor center, and transfusion services capacities in both the United States Navy and United States Air Force health care communities.

Retired Air Force Maj. Edward Griffin has more than 25 years of health care experience that includes comprehensive leadership, managerial, administrative, financial, staffing, quality/regulatory and clinical oversight.

Griffin holds numerous industry and professional certifications, has drawn blood on Navy ships during enormous waves on high seas, rappelled out of helicopters during mass casualty drills, led wartime blood operations as the director of Middle East Blood Program (JTBP) and lived in Japan for ten years.

He has a rare ability to bring business skills and communication techniques to the health care field to benefit the patient. He currently is the director of transfusion medicine at a level one trauma medical center in Los Angeles, Calif.

Tse has more than 20 years of transfusion medicine management experience in directing the administration, technical and operational activities at blood donor centers, hospital-based blood donor centers and transfusion services.

Tse’s areas of expertise include transfusion services and blood center operations and quality management; system implementation, standardization, continuous process improvement, and optimization; regulatory compliance and accreditation; and blood bank information system implementation.

Tse is certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) as a medical laboratory scientist and specialist in blood banking. He is certified by the International Six Sigma Institute as a Six Sigma green belt, black belt, and master black belt. He is certified by the International Organization for Project Management as an accredited project manager.

Tse received his Bachelor of Science (Summa Cum Laude) in clinical laboratory science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He earned a Master of Science with honors in transfusion medicine from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed his SBB training at the Hoxworth Blood Center. He received an AABB-Fenwal SBB Scholarship Award for scientific research excellence. He holds a Master of Business Administration with honors from North Park University in Chicago, Ill.

Tse is a former AABB assessor and current CAP inspector. He is a member ASCP and AABB, where he is active in the Patient Blood Management Subsection. Lok is a Soft Network User Group (SNUG) Executive Board member.

Ward has 25 years of experience in the cell therapy field as a cell processing lab manager at three academic health centers, including as cord blood bank director, milk bank director and, most recently, as a CAR-T operations manager.

Ward’s areas of expertise include the technical aspects of cell processing, controlled-rate freezing, liquid nitrogen storage freezers and vapor shippers, cell processing operations, improvement and quality management, good tissue practice (GTP), good manufacturing practice (GMP) and accreditation compliance. He is known as an effective teacher/trainer by his clients, peers and students.

A graduate of University of Nebraska Medical Center with a Bachelor of Science in medical technology, Ward has earned the diplomate in laboratory management (American Society of Clinical Pathologists) and lean Six Sigma green belt certifications (Johnson County Community College).

Ward is a member of AABB and the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) and has served on committees with both organizations. He is currently a member of the National Marrow Donor Program’s (NMDB) Cord Blood Advisory Group. His experience includes eight years as an AABB cell therapy assessor and 14 years as an inspector for the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT).

Belanger retired from the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps as a lieutenant colonel and subsequently was president/CEO of Shepeard Community Blood Center in Augusta, Ga.

Belanger has more than 35 years’ experience in combat casualty care, combat development, donor center operations and transfusion medicine.

Belanger received his doctorate in health care administration from the Medical University of South Carolina; specialist in applied biology (immunohematology) and a Master of Science in biology from Bowling Green University; a Master of Arts in management from Webster University; and bachelor’s degrees in laboratory technology and medical technology from Auburn University. He is certified as a Six Sigma black belt and specialist in blood banking and medical technology.

Belanger has served in many positions within the blood community’s professional organizations: member of the AABB’s Policy Council, member and of the Blood Centers of America (BCA) Executive Committee and chair of BCA’s Standardization Committee, member of America’s Blood Centers (ABC) Board of Directors and Policy Council, member of the National Blood Testing Cooperative Board, member of the Alliance for Community Transfusion Services Board, member of the Commonwealth Transfusion Foundation (CTF) Board of Directors and chair of the CTF Grants Committee.

Sivan provides the necessary roadmaps for different organizations, such as blood centers and companies that serve the transfusion industry, to provide solutions that benefit the needs of the market.

Sivan has more than 20 years of experience in different functions throughout his career, including product management, marketing management, sales management, strategic planning committees, and general corporate and operational management. He also has expertise in manufacturing and importing of medical devices and drugs, as well as managing FDA processes and submissions, including FDA meetings, clinical studies, 510(k) and NDA submissions, and product launches. Additionally, Sivan has consulted for companies in fields such as RFID, cybersecurity, data analytics and medical equipment manufacturing.

Sivan served in the Israeli Defense Forces for three years and then studied business and marketing at the College of Management in Rishon Le Zion, Israel. He has held several positions in international and local companies throughout his career. He is a member of AABB.

O'Brien Sromoski is the program manager for the Patient Blood Management Program and Center for Bloodless Medicine at Geisinger in Northeast and Central Pennsylvania. Sromoski and her team have created a comprehensive patient blood management (PBM) program that includes an anemia consultative service; a transfusion safety officer; a real-time, 24/7 prospective component review process; and a robust, systemwide PBM committee.

O'Brien Sromoski’s background includes 20 years' experience in critical care, trauma, transplant and obstetrics.

Sromoski received her master’s degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa.

O'Brien Sromoski serves on the AABB PBM Standards Committee, is active in the AABB PBM Subsection and has served as an AABB PEP mentor to help others develop their programs. In addition, she is an active member of the Society of Patient Blood Management (SABM). She is involved in several SABM committees, including as chair of the Resource Development Workgroup. She acts as a mentor to SABM members developing their PBM programs.

Royster served as the quality assurance manager for the Armed Services Blood Program within the Defense Health Agency (DHA). Over a tenure spanning four years until her retirement in 2023, she oversaw critical operations supporting 56 transfusion service activities, 20 blood donor centers and two blood shipment centers. In this role, Royster played a pivotal role as a key liaison to regulatory bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration, AABB and the DHA’s Clinical Laboratory Medicine Science Office. Her responsibilities included providing expert guidance on clinical laboratory and blood services quality assurance, as well as addressing policy issues within the organization.

Royster brings more than three decades of expertise in spearheading comprehensive administrative, technical, quality assurance, regulatory, and accreditation compliance initiatives within the realm of transfusion services, blood donor centers and clinical laboratories. Her wealth of experience extends to the seamless implementation of blood establishment computer systems, further enhancing operational efficiency and regulatory compliance across diverse health care settings.

Royster earned her Bachelor of Science degree in clinical laboratory science from Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. She holds certifications as a quality auditor from the American Society of Quality and as a clinical laboratory scientist from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, reflecting her commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality and proficiency within her field.

Throughout her illustrious 35-year career, Royster has held a diverse range of roles showcasing her expertise and dedication. She notably served as the deputy quality assurance manager for the Army Blood Program, providing invaluable support to 10 Blood Donor Centers and 20 Transfusion Services. Additionally, she assumed the roles of quality assurance manager and blood donor center supervisor at Womack Army Medical Center, now Fort Liberty, in North Carolina. Royster's commitment to excellence extends beyond her professional endeavors, as she has dedicated more than two decades to volunteering as an AABB assessor and actively participating in the AABB BB/TS Accreditation Committee, furthering the standards of excellence within the field.

Jennifer Chain, PhD, CABP, is an academically trained scientist with 26 years of experience in laboratory bench work, T-cell immunology, molecular and cellular biology, autoimmunity, method and product development, cell therapy and cellular starting materials. Chain has served as an R&D scientist to develop new diagnostic testing platforms, director of R&D to standardize cellular staring materials collected inside blood centers and to develop new blood products to support cell therapy manufacturing and. She has also served as a consultant specializing in R&D and cell therapy.

Chain earned her CABP credential from AABB in 2022. As a consultant, her primary focus is on cellular starting materials for allogeneic cell therapy manufacturing. She assists collection centers in initiating or expanding their programs and advises cell therapy companies on the critical role of quality donors and starting materials in the success of their therapies.

Immunology, cell and molecular biology, autoimmunity, new method development, new product development, cell therapies/biotherapies and cellular starting materials.

Connor is an associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, where he serves as the medical director for transfusion services. He also serves as medical director of laboratory services at UW Health’s East Madison Hospital and East Park Medical Center.

In his role in transfusion medicine, Connor is active in numerous quality improvement projects to enhance the appropriate use of transfusion for both improved patient care and responsible cost containment. In this role, Connor is specifically working to improve blood management strategies in the areas of solid tumor oncology and solid organ surgical transplantation.

Connor is an active member of AABB and has participated in the organization’s committee on blood management education.

Briggs holds a Master of Science degree from Creighton University. Currently serving as the deputy director for the Parker County Hospital District’s EMS Division, he oversees the operation of the prehospital transfusion program and moderate complexity lab. He provides expert guidance on EMS operations, organizational efficiency and quality improvement.

Malone is a key member of a team concentrating on the development of unique solutions that make an impact on human lives. As sr. director of custom solutions and sales support at BioBridge Global (BBG), in San Antonio, Texas, Malone supports BBG's strategic collaborations at every stage of product development. Additionally, Malone works with companies providing tools for clinical product manufacturing and supports internal customers daily.

Malone's current role relies heavily on her diverse 30-year transfusion medicine career experience that includes pediatric transfusion practice, blood center immunohematology and infectious disease testing, sales and marketing for 510k-regulated closed system medical devices, and contract manufacturing and development services for cell and cell-based biologics.

Malone's expertise includes transfusion medicine products and processes, advanced therapies process engineering, cleanroom facility design and qualification, regulatory/quality requirements (BB/TS, CT), good manufacturing practices, cellular starting materials, advanced critical problem solving, new business development and interdisciplinary collaboration.

A graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology, Malone earned the specialist in blood banking certification from the American Society of Clinical Pathology. In 2022, she earned her certified advanced biotherapies professional (CABP) credential from AABB as a member of the inaugural CABP cohort.

As a beginning medical technology professional, Malone gained career-defining experience in a multi-accredited hospital transfusion service, where she provided pediatric transfusion medicine support to the smallest patients in Arkansas. Her passion for troubleshooting and patient care led her to achieve her specialist in blood banking certification. Malone has also held various roles, including establishing an immunohematology reference laboratory and conducting infectious disease testing for blood and organ donors.

Malone's mentors actively encouraged further education, abstract publication and networking with industry leaders. She naturally identified strategic advisors and, in collaboration with them, joined the ranks of the South Central Association of Blood Banks (South Central), earning early accolades as a “rising star” in transfusion medicine. Over the next thirteen years, Malone would devote many volunteer hours to South Central, ultimately serving as its president and over 20-year member.

As Malone's network expanded, her career transitioned into sales of disposable medical devices for CharterMedical. As director of technical sales, Malone excelled at solutions-based selling and further expanding her complex system of professional allies. Since joining BBG in 2017, Malone has been instrumental in establishing GenCure as a preferred biomanufacturing organization for the cell therapy industry, ensuring client satisfaction and enduring trust as a client advocate and long-term strategic partner.

Malone is a member and past president of the South Central Association of Blood Banks, where she served on multiple committees, including the board of directors, for 12 years. She is also a member of AABB and the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT), currently serving on committees with both organizations.

Bales has many years of experience as an assessor and a CAP inspector. Bales has more than 30 years of management experience in laboratory medicine, blood donor centers and hospital-based transfusion services.

Bales’s expertise includes designing implementation models to be used as roadmaps to blood donor centers and transfusion services facility accreditations.

Bales holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Purdue University, a certificate in organizational leadership from Harvard University, and certifications in medical laboratory science and immunology from ASCP. In 2022, Bales was awarded an Individual Excellence Award from the Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine (AATM); this award is bestowed to individuals and institutions who have “contributed to the cause of transfusion medicine at a trans-national level, especially for Asian countries.” Bales was recognized for “continually working for all around development of transfusion services across many countries.”

During Bales’s years as CEO and senior management, she led organizations through strategic planning activities, process improvement activities and facility accreditation processes.

De Coning began her career in blood banking in 1972 as a trainee medical technologist at the Eastern Province Blood Transfusion Service in South Africa. She later went on to qualify in both blood transfusion technology and hematology disciplines of medical technology.

Until 2005, de Coning worked at Blood Transfusion Services throughout South Africa, including holding a directorship at the South African National Blood Service (SANBS). In 2005, she became an international consultant, specializing in blood donor management and quality management systems. She has worked as a consultant in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America for the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies (IFRCRCS), the European Union and the Swiss Red Cross.

De Coning completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of South Africa, majoring in microbiology.

In 2008, she joined Safe Blood for Africa, conducting training in blood donor management and other technical assistance activities, working with 35 countries in Africa. De Coning joined AABB in 2012 and is currently the project director for Africa, conducting technical assistance activities in numerous African countries.

Bapat is a validated global expert for clinical and medical affairs, for gene and cell therapies, and for clinical trials in the field of regenerative medicine. She has more than 20 years of leadership experience as medical director, principle investigator and vice president in the Australia, India, the United Arab Emirates and United States. She has managed and supervised complex diagnostic labs and facilities, including biobanks and cord blood banks. She has helped lead projects and companies working in regenerative medicine, gene and cellular therapies and biotech towards success.

Bapat is a medical doctor who specializes in biotherapies (cell and gene therapies) and international quality management systems with a focus on regulatory affairs and compliance. Her experience includes gap audits for accreditation and certification programs, including AABB, AATB, FACT, JCI, CAP, ISO, FDA, DCGI, and other global regulations in the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Bapat has postgraduate medical education in clinical pathology (transfusion services, transplants, lab medicine and immunology) and in hospital and health care management. She is also an ex-chair whose leadership was instrumental in establishing cord blood banking and stem cell banking regulations in India.

Bapat is also an author, speaker, moderator and who has served as a subject matter expert at international conferences, workshops and in international publications. She is an elected member of AABB’s Cell Therapy Subsection Coordinating Committee since 2020 and an AABB international ambassador since 2015. She has also been an advisor to the Parents Guide to Cord Blood and the Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine. In 2022, Bapat was credentialed by AABB as an honorary certified advanced biotherapies professional (CABP[H]) for her role in developing the educational syllabus for the CABP credential and conducting the credentialing examination.

Bapat received an AABB President’s Award for Biotherapies in 2022 in recognition of her many contributions to advance AABB’s work in biotherapies, including service on AABB’s CTSCC and leadership on the Cord Blood and Asia-Pacific Group Subsections, Quality and Regulatory Management Subsection, Regulatory Affairs Subsection, and for many other volunteer roles. Bapat is now a medical consultant to many biotech companies, pharmaceutical companies and regenerative medicine facilities around the world.

Cunha has authored blood banking publications and the Brazilian Ministry of Healthy guidelines for transfusion medicine. She has served as a consultant to the Brazilian Ministry of Hemotherapy and as editor for Transfusion Medicine journal. For many years, Cunha has been a featured speaker and chairperson at the HEMO Congress (Brazilian Congress of Hematology), recognized as the fourth most significant hematology congress globally. She has also been a member of the Consortium for Blood Group Genes, a worldwide organization whose goal is to establish guidelines for DNA and RNA testing, which was founded by Marion Reid from the New York Blood Center.

Cunha has vast expertise in immunohematology, molecular biology, infectious disease detection, blood collection and hemostasis.

Cunha received her bachelor’s degree in medicine from Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil. She completed a residence in hematology and hemotherapy through University of State of São Paulo and a specialization in blood banking at the Ribeirão Preto Blood Center.

Cunha is certificated by Brazilian Society of Hematology, Hemotherapy and Cell Therapy (ABHH) and the Brazilian Society of Clinical Pathology/Laboratorial Medicine (SBPC/ML). She received a master’s degree and doctorate degree in hematology, as well as a master’s degree in business administration, from University of São Paulo. Cunha also has a certification in clinical research from the University of Chicago.

From 1998 – 2012, Cunha worked in the blood banking field as a medical practitioner, researcher, teacher and laboratory coordinator at University of São Paulo and at Fleury Group. For the last 10 years, she has worked in the pharmaceutical industry (blood bank area) as medical affairs director for Latin America.