Education

Bethany Brown, PhD, MSCS

Clinical Scientist with a PhD and MS in Clinical Science from University of Colorado and BS in Biology from University of Central Arkansas. Research focuses on quality and safety of conventional and emerging blood products, including utilizing existing methods and developing new methods for preclinical and clinical evaluation of products for regulatory licensure. Bethany directs blood component research related to the in vitro quality, sterility, and in vivo efficacy of new and emerging blood products. In addition to leading evaluations of modified processes and products for Transfusion Medicine, her team at American Red Cross is working on improved methods for blood product evaluations to insured continued availability and improved safety of life-saving blood products. To support translational science and ultimately improve access to blood products, she is also involved in regulatory consultation to navigate licensure requirements.

Research Interests

• Innovations to improve blood availability including dried plasma and other emerging blood products
• In vivo blood cell (platelets and red blood cells) recovery and survival studies to demonstrate safety and efficacy of new and modified blood products; gold standard radiolabeling methods and emerging alternative methods with biotin and fluorescent labels
• Pathogen Reduction Technology to prevent Transfusion-transmitted Diseases
• Understanding blood-related bacterial risks and mitigations
• Transfusion research study design

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=i9FsQ7IAAAAJ&hl=en

Dr. Joseph Rappold

Dr Rappold is an Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prior to entering medical school, he completed 8 years and multiple deployments as a US Navy nuclear submarine officer serving on a variety of submarines. His surgical internship and residency were completed at the Naval Medical Center San Diego and his fellowship was completed at the University of California San Diego. He then commenced a series of combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan commanding a variety of facilities including all US personnel at the British Field Hospital at Camp Bastion. In 2008 he was the Joint Trauma Theater Medical Director responsible for all surgical care in both combat theaters.

In San Diego he directed the SICU and eventually became chair of the Department of Surgery at the military’s largest medical facility. He has published multiple articles and book chapters and currently directs a translational research laboratory focused on TXA at the Maine Health Institute for Research. He has received a variety of unit and personal awards including the Bronze Star for valor in combat and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal among others.