James Bussel, MD

Dr. James Bussel is Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Obstetrics at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City. His training was initiated at Yale, continued at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, then he completed a Pediatric Residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and a Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the combined Cornell/Memorial Sloan Kettering program. The great majority of Dr. Bussel’s publications are centered around diagnosis and especially management of patients with ITP, including children with ITP, adults with ITP, pregnant women with ITP, HIV infected patients with thrombocytopenia, and fetuses affected by autoimmune and alloimmune thrombocytopenia. He has worked with IVIg, IV anti-D, rituximab, and most recently the thrombopoietic agents. Dr. Bussel also serves on the PDSA Board of Medical Advisors.

 

Amy Geddis, MD, PhD

Dr. Amy Geddis is an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UCSD/Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. She specializes in the genetics of platelet disorders. She received her MD and PhD from Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. She completed her Pediatric Residency at the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA and her Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/oncology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle before moving to UCSD. During her career Dr. Geddis has received numerous academic honors. Her many publications have added to our understanding of the role of thrombopoietin in platelet production and the nature of inherited thrombocytopenias. Dr. Geddis also serves on the PDSA Board of Medical Advisors.

 

Terry Gernsheimer, MD

Dr. Terry Gernsheimer is Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Medical Director of the Platelet Antibody Laboratory at the Puget Sound Blood Center, and Director of Transfusion Services for the University of Washington Medical Center and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Dr. Gernsheimer’s research focuses on the pathophysiology and treatment of immune platelet disorders and pathologic immune responses associated with transfusion. She has clinical research interest in transfusion management of the hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient and surgical bleeding in patients undergoing solid organ transplant and cardiovascular procedures. She has made significant contributions toward understanding the pathophysiology and management of auto-immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Dr. Gernsheimer serves on the PDSA Board of Medical Advisors.

Craig Kessler, MD

Dr. Craig Kessler is professor of Medicine and Pathology and Section Chief of Hematology. He is also Director of the Coagulation Laboratory at Georgetown. A graduate of Tulane School of Medicine, Dr. Kessler received his specialty training in hematology and oncology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. An international expert in the area of disorders of coagulation, Dr. Kessler has a particular interest in hemophilia. He also has expertise in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Dr. Kessler also serves on the PDSA Board of Medical Advisors.

 

David J. Kuter, MD, DPhil

Dr. David Kuter is Chief of Hematology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. He earned a research doctorate (DPhil) at Magdalen College of Oxford University and a medical degree at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kuter is Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief of Hematology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition, Dr. Kuter sits on numerous national and international ITP committees and is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology. He has dedicated years of effort to researching coagulopathies, anticoagulation, and platelet disorders. In recent years, Dr. Kuter has conducted groundbreaking research into the development of effective thrombopoietic agents. Dr. Kuter also serves on the PDSA Board of Medical Advisors.

 

Howard A. Liebman, MD

Dr. Howard Liebman is Professor of Medicine and Pathology at the University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA. He serves as Medical Director of the Special Hemostasis Laboratory at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and is Director of the fellowship program in hematology. Dr. Liebman received his medical degree from USC and completed his postgraduate training including a residency in internal medicine and fellowships in medical oncology and hematology at Los Angeles County - University of Southern California Medical Center. Dr. Liebman completed a research fellowship at Tufts University - New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, and held faculty positions at Tufts University and Boston University, before returning to USC. Dr. Liebman’s research interests include clinical management and characterization of haemostatic and thrombotic disorders, management of autoimmune blood disorders, and clinical therapy of HIV and AIDS. He has authored or co-authored 85 peer-reviewed publications and 26 reviews and chapters. Dr. Liebman also serves on the PDSA Board of Medical Advisors.

 

Robert McMillan, MD

Dr. Robert McMillan is a Professor Emeritus of the Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine at the Scripps Research Institute and a retired clinical hematologist who practiced at the Scripps Clinic; both institutions are in La Jolla, California. Dr McMillan is also an Emeritus Member of both the Platelet Disorder Support Association and its Medical Advisory Board. He received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine before completing an internship at Los Angeles County General Hospital, residencies at Queen's Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the VA Center at Wadsworth Hospital in Los Angeles, and a fellowship in Hematology at the VA Center at Wadsworth Hospital. Dr McMillan is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Hematology and the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis. Much of Dr McMillan's research has focused on immune thrombocytopenic purpura, about which he has published over 70 articles and reviews, including several guideline articles for the American Society of Hematology.

 

John W. Semple, PhD

Dr. John Semple received his PhD in Immunology from Queen’s University in 1986 and trained as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research of the C.H. Best Institute, University of Toronto from 1986-1990. He joined St. Michael's Hospital in 1990 and is currently the Director of Transfusion Medicine Research of the Toronto Platelet Immunobiology Group and a Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Toronto.  Dr. Semple has published over 120 papers on platelet immunology.  His research activities include several areas including anti-platelet T cell responses in patients with acute and chronic ITP, the analysis of how platelet antigens are recognized by the immune system, and how platelets may act as immune-like cells that are responsible for initiating and perpetuating their own autoimmune demise.  Dr. Semple also serves on the PDSA Board of Medical Advisors.

 

Michael Tarantino, MD

Dr. Michael Tarantino is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Peoria. He received a doctoral degree in medicine from the University of  Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1987. He completed an internship and residency at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center and a Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. Dr. Tarantino first became interested in ITP during his residency in 1988.  Since that time he has designed and/or participated in numerous clinical investigations related to ITP and other platelet disorders. He has authored numerous publications relevant to the diagnosis and management of ITP, especially as it occurs in children.  He is also active in hemophilia and other bleeding disorders research, and founded The Bleeding and Clotting Disorders Institute last year.  Dr. Tarantino serves on the PDSA Board of Medical Advisors.