Dr. Norman Kalmin elected VP of International Society of Blood Transfusion

SAN ANTONIO (October 14, 2008)— The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) has announced that  Dr. Norman Kalmin, President/CEO and Medical Director of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, has been elected to serve as the Vice President of the Society through 2010. Kalmin joined the ISBT board in 2006 following his election by ISBT members as the Director for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Region, Northern Americas, for the period 2006 through 2010.

The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is a scientific society of world renown that was founded in 1935. The society brings together more than 1,400 professionals involved in blood banking and transfusion medicine from more than 85 countries.

“It is an honor to be chosen from such a distinguished group of peers that comprise the membership of ISBT,” Kalmin said. “It has been a pleasure working with colleagues from across the globe on issues related to blood transfusion”.

As a member of the ISBT board, Kalmin deliberates congressional issues, reviews scientific decisions, assists in the fiscal management of the Society and helps promote collaborative programs between individuals and countries involved in transfusion medicine. His duties also include recruiting new members from the North American region, maintaining contact with current regional members and organizing scientific symposia, congresses, and presentations in the region.

Kalmin was trained as a physician at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, completed a residency in Clinical Pathology in Buffalo, New York and a blood banking fellowship in Atlanta, Georgia. He is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Clinical Pathology and Blood Banking and has more than 25 years of experience in blood and tissue banking, with expertise in bone marrow donation, infectious disease testing and umbilical cord blood banking.

“This is a tremendous recognition for Dr. Kalmin and the work he has done to advance the science of transfusion medicine globally” said Dr. Anthony Infante, Chair of the STBTC Board of Directors. “We are proud that his international colleagues recognize what we have already come to know of Dr. Kalmin — he is a distinguished physician, researcher and leader.”

Kalmin is a member of the American Association of Blood Banks, America’s Blood Centers, the American Association of Tissue Banks, and the National Marrow Donor Program among other organizations. He has published many articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented numerous papers at national and international meetings.