Sabrina is a Sr. Social Worker at Gulf States Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in Houston, Texas. She services patients throughout their life span diagnosed with bleeding disorders, provides educational programs for patients and their families as well as enjoys community outreach for the El Paso community.

Sabrina completed the TDIMA eCoach-the-Coach Quality Improvement program, serving as a pioneer ATHN coach. Sabrina previously served on the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) Social Work Working Group; was co-Chair of the NHF Ethics Working Group and is the recipient of the NHF Social Work Excellence Fellowship Award for 2018.

Current Affiliation:
Professor Emeritus
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH 45229

Administrative Responsibilities:
Executive Board, Tri-State Bleeding Disorders Foundation
Executive Board, FAMOHIO

Dr. Gruppo holds an MD degree from Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore, MD. He completed his pediatric training at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH and the Harriet Lane Pediatric Fellowship Program at Johns Hopkins Medical School. He completed a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH. He has had a lengthy career, most notably Director of the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Program and the Special Hemostasis and Research Laboratory at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital since 1974 until his retirement in 2018. He served on the board of directors of the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Research Society, on the Medical Advisory Board for the U.S. Bureau of Maternal and Child Health, and on the Medical Advisory Board for Hemophilia for the Ohio Department of Health. He is currently an emeritus member of the American Society of Hematology, the International Society of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, and the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society.

Dr. Gruppo’s research interests are on hemophilia, particularly prophylaxis and immune tolerance of inhibitors, on heritable disorders of thrombosis in children, endovascular thrombolysis in children, and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. He has over 80 book chapters and publications in peer-reviewed journals and was principal investigator for several federally sponsored and industry sponsored studies.

Stephanie has been with Cascade Hemophilia Consortium since 1996, including 17 years serving as Associate Director. As Executive Director, she guides the daily operations of 17 full and part-time staff and serves over 500 patients in her region. She has extensive knowledge of the 340B Federal Drug Discount Program. Stephanie also manages Cascade’s multi-million dollar funding award program to 18 Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) and 7 Hemophilia Foundations located in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. In addition to the management of Cascade’s program, as a contract pharmacy, Stephanie and her staff manage 6 HTC 340B factor programs. Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in health care administration from Concordia University. Stephanie feels very fortunate and thankful for the many long-time friendships made throughout her years at Cascade. “We have an exceptional community filled with many wonderful and dedicated people”.

Donald Akers, Jr. (Donnie) has been a volunteer for over 20 years with the Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA) (www.hemophiliafed.org.), a national non-profit organization that advocates for persons and families with bleeding disorders. He serves as the HFA general counsel (pro bono) and has served on its board of directors and executive committee. He is a passionate advocate for persons with chronic illness, speaking throughout the country on legal topics pertinent to patients and their families. He is a contributor to the Coalition for Hemophilia B and the Louisiana Hemophilia Foundation as well as a founding director of the National Ulcerative Colitis Alliance (www.nuca.life).

Akers is a retired assistant district attorney for the 16th Judicial District of Louisiana. As the designated elder abuse prosecutor, he was responsible for oversight of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation cases and a speaker at conferences on these topics. He also served as the Family Services Division liaison to the Juvenile Court judges and prosecutors in the district. He holds a BA from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a JD from the Louisiana State University Law School. He resides in New Iberia, LA, where he limits his practice to elder, estate, and small business law.

Current Affiliation:
Operations Manager
Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders at M Health Fairview

Amy Marquez has worked with the Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders at M Health Fairview in Minneapolis, MN since 2010. She has served in a variety of roles to support the program and services for patients and families with bleeding disorders. In her current role as Operations Manager, Amy provides leadership and oversight to both the clinic and pharmacy programs and is an advocate for patients and the comprehensive care model delivered at HTCs. She provides information and education to payers on the care and complex needs of patients with bleeding disorders and has extensive knowledge of the 340B Federal Drug Discount Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, as well as a master’s degree in Health Care Innovation. She serves on multiple committees with the local hemophilia foundation chapter and participates in many community events.

Tracy unexpectedly became a member of the bleeding disorders community 18 years ago when her son was born and diagnosed with severe Hemophilia A – with no known family history. She served on the Virginia Hemophilia Foundation Board from 2005-2009 and on the Virginia Governor’s Hemophilia Advisory Board from 2006-2010. She joined the Hemophilia Federation of America Board in 2006 as a board member and then served as Secretary, 1st Vice President and Board Chair and currently serves on the Executive Committee as the Past Chair as well as the Chair of the Symposium Committee.

She works as a Trust and Estate Paralegal at Pender & Coward, P.C., Attorneys at Law. She received her Bachelor of Science in Governmental Administration from Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia, 2000. In her spare time, she can usually be found at a baseball field. Her son will be attending Chowan University in the fall to play baseball, something they thought impossible at the time of his diagnosis.

Courtney is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with the Hemophilia Treatment Center at St. Jude Affiliate Clinic at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been caring for pediatric patients in Charlotte since 2002. Since 2013, she has focused solely on pediatric hematology patients. She enjoys educating patients, families, and healthcare providers regarding bleeding disorders across the US.

Courtney received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Queens University of Charlotte. She received her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Child Health Nursing from SUNY-Stony Brook. She has a hemostasis nursing certification as well.