June 15, 2007

Nurses declare victory in Blood Drive Challenge

The MGH Blood Donor Center was buzzing with activity last month as a record number of employees turned out for the third annual Medical Service Blood Drive Challenge. The 2007 competition marked the best year to date for the challenge, which was initiated three years ago by Allan Moore, MD, of the Endocrine Division, and Kimberly Cronin of the Blood Donor Center.

The nurses, led by Alexis Auger, RN, and Susan Morash, RN, were declared this year's winners after a month of stiff competition. Bigelow 11 led the nursing side with a 76 percent participation rate among nursing staff and was declared the winning team.

The physician team was led by intern Ryan Thompson, MD. Interns were the leaders in this group, with 50 percent donating blood during the challenge. Overall, this year's challenge marked a record turnout — nearly one in five members of the Medical Service staff donated blood and total donations increased 60 percent over last year's competition.

Auger, third from left, and Bigelow 11 nursing staff receive the MGH Medical Services award plaque at the Blood Donor Center with Moore, second from left, and Cronin, far right.