Donald Arnold, MDCM, MSc, FRCP(C)
Dr. Donald M. Arnold is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University, and Director of the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Transfusion Research at McMaster University. Dr. Arnold’s research is focused on improving blood transfusion practices and advancing the care of patients with platelet disorders. Dr. Arnold was co-principal investigator for the CONCOR-1 trial, which evaluated the use of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 in Canada, the US and Brazil, and was instrumental in uncovering the mechanisms of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) after COVID-19 vaccinations. His translational research program on immune-mediated platelet disorders includes clinical and laboratory-based research. Dr. Arnold and colleagues are building the Canadian Transfusion Trials Group to support large, efficient clinical trials in Transfusion Medicine in Canada with a focus on pragmatic trials and mentorship of early career investigators.
Jennifer DiRaimo
Jennifer DiRaimo is PDSA’s Research Program Manager. She began working with PDSA in the fall of 2019. She has a Masters degree in Genetic Counseling from Brandeis University and worked as a clinical health care provider in allied health for over 14 years before coming to PDSA. She has experience working collaboratively in the health care industry and loves teaching and research. Since working at PDSA, Jennifer has managed our research program and oversees advocacy work in Canada. Her passion is to help improve the lives of those living with ITP, and their families. She is also the facilitator of the Canadian teleconference support group through PDSA and sits on the National Rare Blood Disorders Organization board as a PDSA representative, and the patient engagement panel through Canadian Blood Services as a PDSA representative.
Kristin Hunt, MDCM, MSc, FRCP (C)
Dr. Kristin Hunt was diagnosed with chronic ITP at the age of 12 years old. She started volunteering and fundraising for PDSA in 2010. She co-founded the ITP Kids Camp and continues to serve on the patient research panel. Determined to continue helping patients, she decided to build her career in medicine. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology (2014) and a Master of Science in Immunology (2016) from McGill University in Montreal, QC. She later obtained her medical degree from McGill University, graduating with the class of 2020. While studying, she also co-founded McGill’s first Rare Disease Interest Group. She then completed her pediatrics residency training at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and recently became a licensed pediatrician in June 2024. She is now completing her second and final year of subspecialty training in Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario. Dr. Hunt hopes to use both her personal and professional experiences to continue helping ITP patients and all those affected by immune-mediated disorders.
Robert Klaassen, MD, FRCP (C)
Dr. Klaassen is a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Professor at the Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa and Clinical Investigator at the CHEO Research Institute. He is the Hemophilia director for the Eastern Ontario region and is the past President of the Association of Hemophilia Directors of Canada. His clinical focus is on the care of patients with non-malignant hematologic disorders and in particular bleeding disorders. His research activities specialize in quality of life and he is one of the owner/inventors of the Kids ITP tools (KIT), which is a quality of life tool specific developed for children with ITP.