Hometown: Woodbridge, VA
Staff Role: Blood Production Specialist
Previously serving as a communication specialist in the military, Heather Williams joined the American Red Cross almost 3 years ago after completing her medical degree. Being the staff person in charge of the Fairfax Blood Donation Center, Heather has a very busy job managing blood donations and drives. As a Production Specialist, she is trained to perform a variety of types of donations, including whole blood, double red blood cell and apheresis platelet collection. The type of donation for each individual depends on their blood type, physical characteristics, personal preferences and the availability of convenient donation opportunities.
Despite the long hours, Heather enjoys working at the Red Cross because of the wonderful staff and the donors she gets to meet. She loves the energetic environment where everyone has a purpose, which is to help ensure the availability of a safe and reliable blood supply in the communities served. Heather and her teammates understand the importance of staying focused so their work can be done carefully. However, her favorite part of her job is meeting donors because she’s inspired by the people she meets, such as families that donate together or people in the hospital who’ve just finished their treatment. She shared the story of one family whose mother was recently diagnosed with cancer. After the mom received blood donations for her treatment, the family now comes to donate blood every two weeks as a way of giving back to the community that has helped them. Stories such as these keep Heather motivated to come to work every day because she’s proud to help people in need.
To learn more about the various types of blood donations, like double red blood cells and platelets, click here.
To find a blood drive near you, click here.
To see current job openings, click here.
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