My name is Eliza VanZweden, and I am a 23-year-old woman living with a rare bleeding disorder called Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia in which my platelets don’t work. I recently graduated with a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering, and I currently work as a process engineer in manufacturing cell therapies to treat cancer. In my free time, I enjoy crocheting, hiking with my dog Rocky, and attending sessions hosted by my local chapter, the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan. A fun fact about me is that I am a certified Cheesemonger and I also used to raise alpacas on my family’s farm. I am looking forward to learning more about Advocacy, Education and Research through NYLI and volunteering with my local chapter!