Newsroom

New York Methodist Hospital (NYM) recently held a special luncheon to honor a select group of individuals who, through their contributions, have given the gift of life to countless individuals in need. One Saturday, June 13, 2009, 150 blood donors were recognized by the Hospital for their invaluable contributions to New York Methodists blood donor program. Each donor was honored for giving between one and nine gallons of blood, and an additional five donors were honored for giving at least eight platelet donations in the last year.

One of the highest honors went to Juan Orta of Gravesend, Brooklyn, who not only donated eight gallons of blood to NYM but also donated 14 platelet units. Awards were also presented to individuals who made at least one donation each season, as well as to local community groups, Congregation Beth Elohim, Brooklyn; Middle School 51; the Park Slope Food Cooperative; the Antique Automobile Association of Brooklyn, all of Park Slope, Brooklyn; and Our Lady of Angels Roman Catholic Church of Bay Ridge Brooklyn which sponsor blood drives.

Grace Gehrke, co-supervisor of the blood donor program at NYM, and Siobhan O Reilly, administrative director of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, expressed their gratitude for all of the donations that the Hospital receives.

Since there is no substitute for blood, the generosity of blood donors ensures that hospitals maintain an adequate supply of blood for their patients. A donation made directly to a hospital is actually a double donation, since it benefits both the patient receiving it and the Hospital, itself, which saves the cost of buying the donated blood.

To make a donation of blood to New York Methodist Hospital, visit the Blood Donor Room, located in the lobby of the Medical Office Pavilion at 263 Seventh Avenue. Walk-in hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If you need to come at another time or will have a group of ten or more people, please call 718 780-3644 or email [email protected], to make an appointment.