Hemophilia of Georgia (HoG) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. And during all 50 years of its existence, HoG has been a fervent agent of change for the bleeding disorders community, both in its home state and with its partnerships worldwide.
This determination and generosity carries into its continued support for future researchers. HoG has been a proud supporter of the Judith Graham Pool Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (JGP). In 2020, the organization endowed its final support funds to NHF for the JGP Fellowship- totalling $1.25 million to the fellowship over five years, which has supported five new research fellows since then. The endowment ensures JGP funding for the future.
As a result of this generous donation, this year’s JGP award will be named in honor and memory of its late CEO and community leader, Trish Dominic. As HoG's first CEO, there were many historical “firsts” for the organization that happened under her leadership.
Thanks to Trish's leadership, HoG grew from a small chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation to an independent, multi-service organization with global partnerships and a staff that included outreach nurses, social workers, and a nonprofit pharmacy. Additionally, HoG became the Regional Core Center, endowed research chairs at Emory University, and created its own camp program, Camp Wannaklot. To learn more about Trish Dominic's life and legacy, read Hemophilia of Georgia's tribute to her here.
Dr. Deniece Chevannes DrPH, MCHES, Vice President of Public Policy, Health Equity, and Research at HoG, spoke with NHF about the organization's impact and passion for the future of research.
Congratulations on your 50th anniversary serving the bleeding disorders community! How long has HoG been supporting the JGP Fellowship?
Thank you, we are proud of what we have become. HoG was started for and by the community. A group of families joined together and worked hard to build an organization that would offer quality care, knowledge, hope, and a sense of community.
It is with this core idea of providing hope to families that we have been supporting JGP for many years. HoG's latest support was a commitment to endow the JGP Fellowship in the amount of $1.25 million dollars. HoG is proud to say that we submitted our final support funds to NHF in 2020 and to date we have supported five new JGP fellows from this endowment.
Why is it important for HoG to support research- and in particular, the JGP Fellowship?
As HoG celebrates 50 years of dedicated service to the bleeding disorder community, we reflect on the achievements that have been foundational to improving outcomes for patients.
Dr. Pool discovered a method of extracting clotting factor from human plasma to formulate cryoprecipitate. That was a pivotal moment that moved bleeding disorder care forward for our community.
As HoG looks forward to the future, we fund research and, in particular, JGP fellowships because we hope that these fellows will produce research that will again revolutionize treatment and outcomes for the bleeding disorder community.
How does supporting JGP help HoG fulfill its mission?
HoG exists so that the patients and families we serve can life fully. We know that with rare disorders, it is important to have a robust portfolio of research that includes basic, translational, and clinical research focus.
HoG funds research that produces beneficial results for the bleeding disorder community, including a possible cure and a reduction in morbidity and mortality. Our staff implements multiple fundraising campaigns throughout the year specifically for research, so that we can have the means to attract and retain new providers.
HoG supports junior researchers to keep them in the field of hemostasis and to facilitate their development as future leaders in the bleeding disorder community.
The JGP funded a Georgia researcher as early as 1999. Among others, Dr. Cristine Kempton was a JGP grantee and Dr. Shannon Meeks has been a JGP mentor. What do these examples say about the fellowship and its importance in supporting early researchers in the bleeding disorders community?
We are fortunate to have strong, committed, brilliant hematologists in Georgia. Dr. Kempton and Dr. Meeks are examples of what hope combined with intentional funding can do for a community. The JGP Fellowship attract young physicians to work in bleeding disorders and hopefully generates new treatment modalities.
But at HoG, we know it takes more than medicine. Through our partnership with these JGP alumni, HoG has been able to expand care and services for patients in our community.
Dr. Kempton serves as an editor for the Hemophilia Journal, ensuring that the science and know-how to care for the patients in our community are shared around the world.
Dr. Meeks is a well-known and respected researcher, hematologist, and mentor to new hematologists around the country. And somehow, in between all that, she finds time to serve as one of the doctors at our annual summer camp for youths with bleeding disorders.
JGP is about developing researchers, but it is also about building a community of dedicated providers who partner with each other, bleeding disorder organizations, and the community to improved outcomes in all areas of a patient’s life.
Why is it important to keep the memory of Judith Graham Pool alive?
Today, more than ever, it is important to honor the innovation and legacy of Judith Graham Pool. As the bleeding disorder community enters a new era of advancement in treatments for hemophilia, we can honor Dr. Pool’s legacy by funding fellowships that lead to the development of researchers who will work on developing new treatments and advancements for all bleeding disorders to bring hope for all in the community.
Thank you to Hemophilia of Georgia for their remarkable contributions to the bleeding disorders community, both through their support of the Judith Graham Pool Fellowship and through their day-to-day impact in Georgia and beyond.
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