Media Inquiries
Our Community Relations staff is available 24 hours a day to respond to media inquiries. Contact Leslie Gamble, Community Relations Director, at 405-278-3119 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with questions or to schedule an interview.
Blood Drives Support Hospitals
May 1, 2013 — Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) encourages blood donors’ support so patients in area hospitals won’t have to be concerned about the availability of blood. Donors with Oklahoma Blood Institute provide every drop of blood needed by patients in 140 medical facilities across the state.
Each donor giving in May will receive an OBI insulated lunch tote, free health screenings and Donor Reward Points. Donors may choose to forgo the tote to support the Global Blood Fund (GBF). Funds so designated will then be contributed to GBF for supplies and equipment for blood centers in the world’s poorest countries.
Since there is no substitute for human blood, supplies must constantly be renewed. Oklahoma Blood Institute encourages anyone who is 16 and older* to donate and save a life this spring.
Although all blood types are needed, those with O-negative type blood are especially encouraged to donate. According to AABB (formerly American Association of Blood Banks), those with O-negative blood type make up only nine percent of the national population; however, O-negative blood can be used by anyone in urgent need.
Schedule your life-saving donation, today!
Save A Life In April. Donate Blood.
April 1, 2013- Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) invites all area residents to donate blood this April at a donor center or mobile drive near you.
By donating blood, donors can feel good about helping to save someone else’s life. As an added bonus, all blood donors will receive an OBI insulated lunch tote, free health screenings and Donor Reward Points. However, if blood donors choose to forgo the donor appreciation item, funds designated for this item will be directed to our partnering organization, Global Blood Fund (GBF). Global Blood Fund and Oklahoma Blood Institute both share a common goal, to make blood available to those in need.
Of those eligible to donate blood in the U.S., only about ten percent actually do, despite the quick and beneficial donation process. Giving blood only takes about an hour and one single donation can save up to three different lives. All healthy adults, 16 years and older* are encouraged to give. Donations can be made every 56 days.
One in every seven people entering a hospital will need blood and every two seconds someone is in need of blood. Since there is no substitute for human blood, supplies must constantly be renewed. Although those with O-negative type blood are strongly encouraged to donate, all blood types are needed.
Oklahoma Blood Institute manages the life-saving donations from more than 209,000 individuals each year and is the ninth largest, non-profit blood center in America.
* 16 year olds must weigh at least 125 and provide signed parental permission, 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds, 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds.
Schedule your life-saving donation today!
STAFF EARNS PROMOTIONS
March 6, 2013─ Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) announces the promotions of Glynnis Kilgore and Marlena Frye. Kilgore has been named Testing Laboratory director. Frye is Technical Operations Systems director, including logistics and distribution.
Kilgore has been in Quality and Technical Operations departments at OBI for 11 years. She served in a leadership role on numerous projects, most recently, a major transition in the blood center’s laboratory testing platform. She brings extensive lab experience to her new role and has a bachelor of science in Biology and her medical technologist (ASCP) certification.
With more than 12 years at OBI, Frye has worked in Technical Operations and as manager of Technical Operations Systems. Frye has been an integral part of the blood center’s success on major laboratory projects impacting quality and efficiency. She led a team representing every facet of OBI in the integration of Arkansas Blood Institute (ABI) into the organization in 2010.
Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Blood Institute is the ninth largest, non-profit blood center in America. Patients in 140 medical facilities across the state rely on life-saving blood provided through OBI, including all hospitals in metro Oklahoma City.
Chief Information Officer Named
January 24, 2013 ─ J.P. Potter has joined Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) as its Chief Information Officer. Potter leads the information technology (IT) functions across all locations served in Oklahoma, north central Texas and western Arkansas. 
Potter joins the executive team after serving five years in IT leadership capacity with Chesapeake Energy in Oklahoma City. His 33-year career has included a broad range of IT roles in industries including computer services, electric utility, retail, consulting and oil and gas.
He earned degrees in both Business Administration and Computer Science at Drury University.
National Blood Donor Month
January 1, 2013 - January is National Blood Donor Month, the perfect time for first-time blood donors and those who donate regularly to remember the reason for giving blood and the impact we all can make for those locally.
Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) volunteer blood donors save lives. We all know it, but how often are we affected by it? Thousands of people in our state are alive today because blood donors helped them survive accidents, surgeries, chemotherapy or other serious health threats. Oklahoma Blood Institute provides every drop of blood needed by patients in more than 144 medical facilities across Oklahoma.
Lauryn Watkins is just one example. Lauryn is a vibrant seven-year old girl with a contagious smile and inspiring attitude. But in February of 2010, Lauryn’s family was faced with devastating news: Lauryn was diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). It began with symptoms similar to a sinus infection. Rounds of antibiotics provided no relief, and intense leg pains were so terrible at times, Lauryn was forced to crawl.
After two bone marrow biopsies, numerous spinal taps, doses of intense chemotherapy drugs and blood transfusions, Lauryn’s cancer is now in remission, and her treatment is in the maintenance stage.
In August of 2011, Lauryn and her family were able to meet three of the six donors whose blood Lauryn had received. As with all OBI donors, they gave not knowing who would receive their blood or what kind of impact it would have.
“I remember the first time Lauryn received blood and all the many thoughts and questions that were racing through my mind,” said Sherri Ellis, Lauryn’s mom. “It was such an honor to shake the hands and hug the necks of the individuals who took the time to donate blood to a complete stranger, someone you never expected to meet.”
Thanks to Oklahoma Blood Institute blood donors, Lauryn now enjoys dance, gymnastics, school and friends.
All healthy adults are encouraged to give blood. Age and weight criteria:
- 16 years old; ≥ 125 lbs. with parental consent
- 17 years old; ≥ 125 lbs.
- 18 years or older; ≥ 110 lbs.
Getting older does not make people ineligible to donate. People who feel well and can do normal day-to-day activities can probably donate. People can give blood every 56 days.
The need for blood is constant. Patients in Oklahoma hospitals have needs 365 days a year, whether it’s for scheduled treatments or for emergencies. Since there is no substitute for human blood, supplies must be constantly renewed.
Schedule your life-saving donation, TODAY!
Blood Donors ‘Double” Giving for Local Children
December 3, 2012 — Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) is making a contribution to The Children’s Hospital Foundation and The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis on behalf of its blood donors. Between May and October, donors were offered the chance to forgo recognition T-shirts, so that OBI could support the local children’s medical facilities with those funds.
Through the gift of blood and support of pediatric research and treatment initiatives at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center and The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis, donors were able to ‘doubly give’ for local children battling life-threatening conditions.
“Families of sick children in our area rely on Oklahoma Blood Institute donors any time life-saving blood is needed,” said John Armitage, M.D., President and CEO. “With this gift, those blood donors will also improve children’s medical care through our children’s hospitals.”
Jan Dunham, director, Children’s Hospital Foundation, an affiliate of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, said the organization was thrilled to partner with Oklahoma Blood Institute. “We are so appreciative to all the generous and caring Oklahomans who not only give blood to save lives but also gave up their donor gifts to support Oklahoma’s critically ill children through Children’s Hospital Foundation.”
Ricci Walton, program director for CMN at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis said, “We are not finished building a world-class program requiring the right staff, physicians and technology to make a difference in the care patients receive. Support from Oklahoma Blood Institute and the community will help all area children get the care they need regardless of ability to pay.”
Every two seconds someone needs blood. Oklahoma Blood Institute provides every drop of blood needed by patients in 144 medical facilities across the state. People 16 and older, who are generally in good health, can typically give blood. Donation usually takes about an hour. Yet, of those eligible to donate, less than 10 percent give each year.
Schedule your life-saving donation at an OBI donor center or mobile blood drive near you!
Congratulations to OSU, the 2012 Bedlam Blood Battle winners!
November 19, 2012 - The winning school in this season’s Bedlam Blood Battle was Oklahoma State University (OSU). Some 1,445 Cowboys volunteered to give blood with Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) Nov. 12 – 16 in the friendly competition between the state’s two largest universities. The University of Oklahoma rallied 1,300 on its Norman campus, wanting to give life-saving blood. As the leader of the state’s blood center noted, though, everyone is a winner in this effort.
“The Bedlam Blood Battle is a great opportunity for blood donors to show their school spirit,” said John Armitage, M.D., OBI President and CEO. “It is also a way to show the best in community spirit by saving lives. And that is the real win.”
This week, students, faculty and staff in Stillwater and Norman participated in Oklahoma Blood Institute’s Bedlam Blood Battle, competing to see which school could enlist the most life-saving blood donors. This marks the third year OSU has won the battle and a trophy was presented to student leaders at the football game in Stillwater against Texas Tech University.
The Bedlam Blood Battle highlighted the need for blood donation heading into the holidays, when fewer people typically give. Some 2,309 people gave blood in this five-day Blood Battle. Since as many as three lives can be saved by each blood donor, the Bedlam Blood Battle will make a life-saving difference for some 6,927 people.
Blood donors with Oklahoma Blood Institute provide every drop of blood needed by patients in 140 medical facilities statewide. This includes all metro-area hospitals. Oklahoma Blood Institute is the ninth largest, non-profit blood center in America.
Congratulations to the winners of the Bedlam Blood Battle giveaways:
Jeremy F. from McKinney, TX winner of the iPad courtesy of OU IT Store
John C. from Collinsville, OK winner of the OSU Kicker Speaker iPod dock.
Charlie B. from Chickasha, OK winner of the Bedlam game tickets.
Cooper S. from Stillwater, OK winner of the Bedlam game tickets.
Schedule an appointment to give blood, Today.
Walter E. Kelley, D.O. Named Medical Director
September 18, 2012 ─ Walter E. Kelley, D.O., has joined Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) as its medical director. Dr. Kelley leads the clinical operations at Oklahoma’s blood center along with James Smith, M.D., chief medical officer, and John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO.
Dr. Kelley joins OBI after serving the past two years in the Public Health Service at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. He is board certified in clinical pathology and a noted speaker and author on transfusion medicine.
Following the completion of his studies at the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, Dr. Kelley graduated from Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency in Pathology and a fellowship in Clinical Chemistry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. He earned further specialty qualifications through a Transfusion Medicine Fellowship at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health.
Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Blood Institute is the ninth largest, non-profit blood center in America, providing every drop of blood needed by patients in 140 medical facilities across Oklahoma, including all in metro Oklahoma City.
Blood Thanks & Giving Day, August 2
August 2, 2012 ─ Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) encourages all Oklahomans to participate in “Blood Thanks & Giving Day” Thursday, August 2. This is a day to celebrate those whose lives have been saved by loyal blood donors.
Anyone who has received blood is encouraged to show gratitude by sharing the story of how blood donation affected his/her life. When blood recipients fill out cards to share their stories at Oklahoma Blood Institute donor centers, not only will they be an encouragement to blood donors, but they will also receive an “I’m Alive Thanks to A Blood Donor” T-shirt.
Those 16 and older, and generally in good health, can donate blood. Blood can be donated every 56 days. OBI supplies every drop of blood used by patients in more than 140 medical facilities throughout Oklahoma.
Every two seconds someone needs blood. Yet, of those eligible to donate blood in the U.S., less than ten percent actually donate each year.
“Blood given with Oklahoma Blood Institute meets the needs of those in Oklahoma communities,” said John Armitage, MD, Oklahoma Blood Institute president and CEO. “So blood donors know they are saving the lives of their friends, family and co-workers. Some may have no idea they will need blood in an urgent situation.”
People who have had surgeries and returned to good health can donate blood as early as two weeks after their procedures. Those who receive blood during surgery can give blood after a year. Cancer survivors can donate just one year after being cancer free, except for those who have had hematologic blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
Schedule an appointment to donate blood at any donor center or mobile drive, today.