Meet Our Volunteers

Volunteer Spotlight and Member Highlights

Exciting news! AABB’s Professional Engagement Program will be showcasing all of the great work our members do for AABB and the world at large.

Our PEP Volunteer Spotlight will consist of a short Q&A with one of our members published each month in AABB News. Our members play an integral role here at AABB and we want to share their accomplishments.

Member Highlights can be any volunteer accomplishment directly involved with AABB and will change as new highlights are added. These highlights may range from publications, committee work, webinars and everything in between!

We are currently soliciting names of individuals to showcase for the coming year in either our Volunteer Spotlight or a Member Highlight capacities. If you or a fellow AABB member are interested, please email us at PEP@aabb.org.

Professional Engagement Program Volunteer Spotlight on Audra L. Taylor, MS, SBB(ASCP)

Vice President, Operations at South Texas Blood & Tissue, San Antonio, TX

How long have you been an AABB member?

I have been a member since 2005.

In which AABB volunteer activities are you currently active? In which have you participated?

Current

• Out of Hospital and Prehospital Standards Committee - Chair
• Standards Program Committee - Member
• Awards Committee - Member
• Assessor (2006 - Present)

Previous

• Blood Banks and Transfusion Services Standards Committee (2014-2021) - Representative (ASBP)
• FDA Liaison Committee (2018 - 2022) - Representative (ASBP)
• Standards Program Committee (2018 - 2022) - Representative (ASBP)

What motivates you to volunteer?

Volunteering with AABB allows me to stay connected to a community that is deeply committed to advancing transfusion medicine and quality patient care. I am motivated by the opportunity to meet professionals during AABB Assessments, while working on standards, and recognizing professionals for their dedicated service and contributions to the profession. It is so rewarding to just connect with others who share a passion for quality, continuous improvement, and excellence, and to know that our collaborative efforts are having a direct impact on patient care!

How has your volunteer work impacted your professional work?

Serving as a volunteer continues to have a positive impact on my professional work by expanding my perspective, strengthening my network, and keeping me engaged with evolving the best practices in transfusion medicine. It continues to create so many opportunities for the exchange of ideas across the field, which enhances the quality of the work I do every day.

What have you learned from volunteering with AABB? And what advice would you give to someone interested in volunteering?

Over the years, I have learned so much through my volunteer work with AABB. I have had the opportunity to work with so many talented professionals. These are individuals I may have never met if not for volunteering with AABB. Each experience has enhanced my understanding of the field and strengthened my commitment to advancing patient care. My advice to anyone considering it is simple: get involved! Volunteering is not only rewarding, but also one of the best ways to grow, give back, and stay connected to the larger mission we all share.

What is your favorite vacation destination?

This is a tough question! There are still so many 'bucket list' destinations that I have not checked off yet! While I cannot say that I have found my absolute favorite just yet, one experience that stands out is a river cruise through France last year. The scenery and history were unforgettable, and it ranks high on my current list of destinations!.