Photos from the Conference

Click on any of the thumbnail images below to view the photos in a slideshow.

You haven’t seen Washington until you’ve seen it at night! Please join us for this year’s Saturday Family Fun event on the evening of July 27th when Old Town Trolley Tours of Washington will take us on a Monuments by Moonlight tour of Washington, D.C. The approximately two-hour driving tour will take you right to some of the city’s most popular monuments and along the way you will be regaled with historical tales and anecdotes. A stop at the Lincoln Memorial will provide the opportunity to stretch your legs and briefly explore the area on foot.

Pickup and drop off will be at the conference hotel. Preregistrations and a $20 fee to offset the cost of the tour is required.

Register

Who should plan to attend ITP Conference 2019?

The annual update on immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is for patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers and industry.

What are the dates and times for the conference?

The 19th annual ITP Conference will take place in Washington, D.C. from July 26-28, 2019 at the Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown. The three-day conference begins with registration on Friday, July 26 at 9am, sessions start at 11am and the day will end at 5pm. Saturday, July 27 will begin with breakfast at 8am and sessions beginning at 9am and running until 5:30pm. A family fun event will take place on Saturday evening from 8pm to 10pm. Sunday’s session will begin with breakfast at 9am and wrapping up the day by 1pm.

How much is registration?

There are various registration levels based on membership, age, days attending, etc. Anyone planning to attend sessions and/or meals needs to be registered for the conference. All registration rates can be found here.

Do I have to stay at the conference hotel?

While not required, it does make it convenient to stay at the conference hotel. If you plan to stay at the Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown, please reserve your room as soon as possible to receive our special conference rate of $149.00 a night (king or queen/queen), plus tax. This rate is for 2 adults or a family of 4 with children under age 18. Triple and quad occupancy rate is $179.00 per night. This special PDSA rate is also available for conference attendees three days before and three days after the conference. This special rate applies to reservations that are made by July 3, 2019, as long as rooms at the hotel are available. We encourage you to make your hotel reservation early to ensure room availability. Reservations can be made online here, or by calling 800-441-1414 and referencing the group code Platelet Disorder Support Association.

Are there scholarships available to attend the conference?

Yes! Partial scholarships cover conference registration for two people and your hotel room for 2 nights (Friday and Saturday). The registration form (hyperlink to paper form) must be completed along with a letter describing your diagnosis, your financial need and the benefit you hope to derive from attending the conference. All materials are returned to Brenda Foster by email at bfoster@pdsa.org or via mail to PDSA, 8751 Brecksville Road, Suite 150, Cleveland, OH 44141. The deadline to apply for a partial scholarship is June 28, 2019. Please note that travel costs are not included in the partial scholarship. Due to the limited number of scholarships available, they will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis and preference is given to first-time attendees. You MUST be a PDSA member to be eligible for a scholarship. Scholarships are only awarded for full, 3-day conference registrations.

Do I need a ticket for admission into sessions and meals?

Upon registration at the conference, all attendees will receive a personalized name badge. These name badges must be worn at all times during the conference sessions and conference meals. Admission to these activities is restricted to badge holders only.

What is the dress code?

All sessions are casual attire and will be held in the hotel meeting rooms which are air-conditioned. However, please remember, everyone has their own personal preferences for temperature and it is often difficult to control temperatures in a hotel setting. It is recommended to bring along a light jacket or sweater to the session rooms. Dress for the Saturday evening family fun event is casual.

What is the program for the weekend?

Details about the program can be found here.

Who will be presenting information at the conference?

A full list of all the speakers can be found here.

What is the PFDD Meeting?

On the first day of the conference, Friday, July 26, PDSA is organizing an externally-led patient-focused drug development meeting (EL-PFDD). As North America’s leading organization dedicated to empowering ITP patients, PDSA has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lead this workshop to enhance the understanding of ITP and the patient experience by regulators, researchers, clinicians and industry. More details about this important meeting can be found here.

Will there be anything on Saturday after the last session?

A complementary one-hour dinner program will take place on Saturday evening at 7pm, sponsored by Amgen. While this dinner is free for all attendees, a separate registration is required to attend the dinner. You will receive an email with information on how to register for the dinner prior to the start of the conference. On-site registration for the dinner may be available on a very limited basis.

What is the Saturday Night Family Fun Event?

We encourage all attendees and their families to join us on Saturday evening from 8pm to 10pm as we have a relaxed, fun event in the conference space. There will be a cash bar available to adult attendees.

I have registered children for the conference. Do they have planned activities?

PDSA offers Kids Kamp for all registered conference attendees ages 5-12. Kamp will take place during all sessions of the conference on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Children will go to meals and breaks with families. Healthy snacks and water will be provided during Kamp as well. If you have a child interested in attending Kamp, you will need to fill out a waiver prior to them participating.

I have a teen attending the conference. Will there be sessions for them?

Yes! We have a special teen track on Friday and Saturday, which is facilitated by our Medical Advisor and Pediatric Hematologist, Dr. Michael Tarantino and staff from his office. Any teen and young adult registered for the conference is welcome to participate in this track.

Will meals be provided?

As part of your conference registration, lunch on Friday and Saturday, breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, a patient mixer on Friday and the Saturday evening family-fun event are all included in your registration fees.

I have special dietary needs. Can those be accommodated?

While we try to offer a variety of food options at each meal, we cannot specifically cater to each dietary need. Please feel free to ask the hotel staff serving the meals for assistance in identifying options that are available for your special needs.

Will I be able to talk with the doctors and/or industry professionals in attendance?

We do make every opportunity available for you to talk with the various experts presenting at the conference, although one-on-one scheduled meetings cannot be accommodated. During session breaks, you are encouraged to talk with the exhibitors in the exhibit hall and with the professionals and presenters, based on availability. There will be 2 small group sessions on Saturday with a hematologist where questions can be addressed as well.

Will industry exhibitors be at the conference?

Some of our sponsors will exhibit products and services directly related to ITP. Only vendors who have permission from PDSA will be allowed to distribute materials. You will have time between sessions and on breaks to speak with the exhibitors and industry representatives.

I made all my reservations but I still have questions. Who do I contact?

We are happy to answer any questions you might have about the conference. Please contact Jody Shy, Programs and Events Manager, at the PDSA office at 877-528-3538 or via email at jshy@pdsa.org. As always, check our website for the most up-to-date information about ITP Conference 2019.

ITP Conference 2019, which took place on July 26-28 in our Nations’ Capitol, gave patients and caregivers a rare opportunity to have their voices heard. On the first day of the conference, Friday, July 26, PDSA organized an externally-led patient-focused drug development meeting (EL-PFDD). As North America’s leading organization dedicated to empowering ITP patients, PDSA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lead this workshop to enhance the understanding of ITP and the patient experience by regulators, researchers, clinicians and industry.

View the Voice of the Patient Report

The purpose of PFDD meetings is to hear directly from patients, their families, caregivers and patient advocates. The FDA has conducted over 25 disease-specific PFDD meetings to more systematically obtain the patient perspective on specific diseases and their treatments. The FDA recognizes that there are many more disease areas that can be addressed beyond the PFDD meetings planned and conducted by FDA, so they are giving patient advocacy organizations the opportunity to host their own PFDD meetings, with input and guidance from FDA. After submitting a letter of intent to FDA, PDSA was honored to be selected to organize and host an EL-PFDD as part of our annual ITP conference.

According to FDA “The patient perspective is critical in helping FDA understand the context in which regulatory decisions are made for new drugs. PFDD meetings give FDA and other key stakeholders, including medical product developers, health care providers, federal partners, an important opportunity to hear directly from patients, their families, caregivers, and patient advocates about the symptoms that matter most to them, the impact the disease has on patients’ daily lives, and patients’ experiences with currently available treatments. This input can inform FDA’s decisions and oversight both during drug development and during our review of a marketing application."

What can you expect from an externally-led PFDD meeting?

If you have attended any of PDSA’s past conferences, you know we always end the conference on Sunday with a patient panel, where patients share their personal journey with ITP. Always insightful and inspiring, if not often heartbreaking, patients learn a tremendous amount about their disease from other patients and caregivers. Over the years, we have had patients say to us “Why don’t you have these patient panels earlier in the conference so that the doctors can hear what it is like to live with ITP?” Well, think of the EL-PFDD program as a larger patient panel session. We had two patient panels of 4-6 patients/caregivers each who talked about the symptoms and burden of living with ITP and the impact of treatments and their side effects. PFDD meetings are also facilitated large group discussions where all patients and caregivers in the room have a chance to share what it is like to live with their condition; discuss the daily impact of ITP, tell stories to highlight their unmet needs, and describe the shortcomings and advantages of current therapies and treatments. As experts in what it is like to live with their condition, ITP patients and caregivers are uniquely positioned to inform the understanding of the therapeutic context for drug development and evaluation.

The EL-PFDD was a half-day meeting and ran from 11am-4pm on Friday, July 26. Following the EL-PFDD meeting, PDSA hosted a patient mixer from 4-5pm with appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages. With a number of new ITP drugs in the pipeline, this was a rare opportunity to have your voices heard and truly make an impact on the understanding of the unmet medical needs and quality of life issues that matter most to ITP patients.

Airports

The Fairmont Hotel Washington, D.C., Georgetown is in close proximity to 3 airports in the Washington, D.C. area.

• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) – 5 miles
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) – 26 miles
• Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) – 35 miles

Ground Transportation

Uber, Lyft and taxi service rates vary depending on airport.

The hotel is just minutes from the Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle Metro Stations.

The hotel does not have an airport shuttle.

Hotel Parking

Parking is available at the hotel for $56/day.

FRIDAY, JULY 26 (PATIENT-FOCUSED DRUG DEVELOPMENT MEETING)

9:00 - 11:00 AM: Registration

11:00 - 11:10 AM: Welcome, Introductions & Opening Remarks

11:10 - 11:30 AM: Background on Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)

TOPIC 1: Effects of ITP that Matter Most to Patients and Caregivers

11:30 - 12:00 PM: Panel Discussion on Topic 1 where a panel of patients and caregivers will provide comments

12:00 - 1:00 PM: Facilitated Group discussion by patients and patient representatives from the audience will be invited to contribute to the discussion

1:00 - 1:45 PM: Lunch

TOPIC 2: Patient Perspectives on Current Approaches to Treatments

1:45 - 2:15 PM: Panel discussion on Topic 2 where a panel of patients and caregivers will provide comments on Topic 2

2:15 - 3:15 PM: Facilitated Group discussion by patients and patient representatives from the audience will be invited to contribute to the discussion

3:15 - 3:45 PM: Open Public Comments

3:15 - 3:45 PM: Closing Remarks

4:00 - 5:00 PM: Patient Mixer

SATURDAY, JULY 27

8:00 - 9:00 AM: Registration, Continental Breakfast, Exhibits open

9:00 - 10:15 AM: ITP Treatment Guidelines Update

10:15 - 10:30 AM: Break

10:30 - 11:30 AM: Inquire & Inspire: patients ask the experts & share personal journeys (small group sessions)

11:30 - 11:45 AM: Break

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM: Breakout Sessions

• Canadian Patients & Caregivers
  
• Children with ITP: treatments, school & sports 
• ITP in Adults

12:45 - 1:45 PM: Lunch Break with PDSA Medical Advisors

1:45 - 2:45 PM: Clinical Trials: why participate?

2:45 - 3:00 PM: Break

3:00 - 4:00 PM: Breakout Sessions

• Inquire & Inspire: patients ask the experts & share personal journeys (small group sessions)
• Women & Girls: the unique challenges of living with a bleeding disorder

4:00 - 4:15 PM: Break

4:15 - 5:15 PM: PDSA Patient-Centered Research (two recipients of PDSA research awards will present their research)

5:15 - 5:30 PM: Announcements

5:30 - 7:00 PM: Break

7:00 - 8:00 PM: Dinner Program

8:00 - 10:00 PM: Saturday Evening Family Fun Event

SUNDAY, JULY 28

9:00 - 10:30 AM: Continental Breakfast

• Support Group Facilitators’ Breakfast (pre-registration requested)

10:30 - 11:30 AM: Keynote Address: Washington Update: What ITP Patients, Caregivers and Providers Need to Know About the Changing Healthcare Landscape

11:30 - 11:45 AM: Break

11:45AM - 12:45 PM: Communicating with your Doctor

12:45 - 1:00 PM: Closing Remarks

Download Program

*A separate track for teens and young adults will run Friday & Saturday
**Agenda and speakers subject to change

ITP Conference Video

All of the sessions at the 2019 ITP Conference were videotaped and are available for purchase in The Platelet Store.  The high-definition videos are organized onto a USB flash drive.  They are PC and Mac compatible.  The PowerPoint slide presentations are included in the videos.

ITP Conference 2019... the largest to-date

This year, PDSA hosted its 19th annual update on immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) for patients, caregivers and the medical community in Washington, D.C. July 26-28. This year’s patient conference took place at the Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown. Each year the ITP conference provides opportunities to hear the latest information about ITP, meet others who are coping and living with ITP and receive answers to your medical questions. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions to PDSA’s Medical Advisors, who are some of the most experienced ITP doctors in the world. 

A highlight to the weekend was the Externally-Led Patient-Focused Drug Development (EL-PFDD) meeting on Friday, July 26, where representatives from the FDA were on-hand to get patient feedback on current ITP treatments and future drugs in development.

In addition to the educational program and social events, our conference featured several small group sessions that gave participants an opportunity to get to know other patients and caregivers in an intimate environment. We also offered programs for children at our Kids Kamp for children ages 5-12. Like last year, this year’s conference provided a separate track for teens and young adults.

Conference Photo Gallery

Click the button below to view photos from the conference. Most Internet browsers will allow you to right-click on a photo and download the photo to your computer.

View Photo Gallery

Introduced in 2016, this program welcomes first-time attendees to the premier patient event. ITP Conference Ambassadors guide new guests through a weekend filled with in-depth disease information, treatment options, the latest research reports, access to world renowned specialists, and life-altering resources. Together they forge meaningful connections that eliminate the mystery and empower patients and caregivers to take control of ITP.

Meet This Year’s Ambassadors!

Cathy (ITP Warrior) and Raul (ITP Spouse) Aldama

Hometown: Laguna Niguel, CA

ITP Warrior & ITP Spouse since: 2006

Daily Inspiration:
Cathy: My family; and new travel adventures.

Raul: Today will be a great day if I let it be.

ITP Survival Tip:
Cathy: Seek out as much information as you can so you can be your best advocate.
Raul: Understand that you can control ITP more than it can control you.

Favorite thing about ITP Conference:
Cathy: hard to pick just one...so, all the great people...seeing old friends, and making new ones!...and, of course, the wealth of information!
Raul: It’s very encouraging to hear how optimistic the panel of experts are.  The information and education and hope they provide is very encouraging.

Kim Everett

Hometown: Manitowoc, Wisconsin

ITP Warrior since: 1983

Daily inspiration: Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. Once a year travel someplace you’ve never been before, or pretend and just plan a trip, even if you never go. You learn so much while you dream of distant lands and read about different places and people.

ITP Survival tip: Learn how to advocate for yourself. Be kind to yourself, if treatments fail. Try not to second guess a past treatment decision, accept a failure and move on. Keep hope alive! Rest, meditate and listen to your body. Be kind to yourself and others, give back.

Favorite thing about ITP Conference: What I like most about the conference is knowing we’re not alone and the opportunity to learn enough information about ITP, so that we can advocate for ourselves, without feeling like we’re stupid.  Knowledge is power!

Melissa Hilsabeck

Hometown: Orange County, CA

ITP Warrior since: 2010

Daily Inspiration: Making people laugh and smile! You never know what someone else is going through so I believe a little smile can go a long way and laughter is the cure for everything.

ITP Survival Tip: Maintain an open communication relationship with your doctor so you feel just as involved in your treatment decision making process. Don't rush into anything you are uncomfortable with and research treatments before saying yes so you know they are right for you. Bonus Tip: PDSA has done all the research for you and they are available 24/7!

Favorite thing about ITP Conference: Seeing people from previous years continuing to stay involved in PDSA and sharing their experiences back in their hometowns. Having a meeting or putting on an event at least once a year really goes a long way. Hearing about them at the conference is very inspirational and serves as motivation to continually stay involved.

Kristin Hunt

Hometown: Montreal, QC, Canada

ITP Warrior since: 2004

Daily Inspiration: Using my own experiences to help other patients with ITP is what motivates me every day. I will not rest until there is more research, more awareness and more support for this important cause. 

ITP Survival Tip: Never let ITP stop you from doing what you love or achieving your goals! Having ITP is what inspired me to pursue medicine as a career so I can continue helping other patients. There are always ways to overcome even our greatest obstacles! 

Favorite thing about ITP Conference: Getting to see all of the amazing people that make PDSA such a great support organization. I love seeing familiar faces year after year, but also getting to know new patients and learning about their ITP journey.

Jenni (ITP Mom) and Cayden (ITP Warrior) Krueger

Hometown: Beloit, WI

ITP Warrior since: 2016

Daily Inspiration:
Jenni: Lots of praying! Pray often, hug often, smile often!
Cayden: “I have ITP...... ITP doesn't have me!”

ITP Survival Tip: Please don't let ITP get the best of you! ITP is treatable. A person can live a "normal" life with ITP. LET'S BEAT ITP, LET'S BEAT ITP, LET'S BEAT ITP, LET'S BEAT ITP!

Favorite thing about ITP Conference:
Jenni: All of the sessions were my favorite. Ha. If I had to choose one...... It would probably be the small break-out sessions. Only because there were a couple that were geared towards parents/caregivers of CHILDREN suffering with ITP.
Cayden: The Children's group. I had so much fun! They had lots of fun activities and prizes! The photo booth was really fun too!

Dawn (ITP Mom) and John (ITP Warrior) Phillips 

Hometown: Elk Grove, CA

ITP Mom & ITP Warrior since: March 2014 when John was diagnosed and we have been raising awareness ever since.

Daily Inspiration:
Dawn: My son is an inspiration to me because he has been through so much and has come through it all a better person that is literally helping to save people's lives by encouraging donations of blood and blood products wherever he goes. He has had 530 donations in his name so far, simply amazing.
John: The look on people's faces when I share my story and they decide they want to start donating blood, platelets, or plasma.

ITP Survival Tip:
Dawn: Keep calm and know that other people understand what you are going through and are there to answer your questions.
John: Make time to take care of yourself. 

Favorite thing about ITP Conference:
Dawn: I just love the staff, they have welcomed us like family members and are always supportive and looking out for things that might benefit us.
John:  Knowing that I am not alone in my battle and talking with people who know exactly how I feel.

Barbara Pruitt

Hometown: Coral Gables, FL

ITP Warrior since: Fall 1961 - I have had ITP for almost my whole life.

Daily Inspiration: What motivates me to keep going? I don't know anything different. As I have gotten older, and maybe wiser, I feel that God isn't finished with me yet. I still have work to do here. I feel that helping others navigate the turbulent waters of ITP is my honor, and I am happy to do so. 

ITP Survival Tip: When someone is diagnosed with ITP, I advise them to not focus solely on the platelet count number. That it is important to consider how you are living with a low platelet count. What are your symptoms? Do you have active bleeding? Petechiae? Are you bruising more or less? And how is the treatment affecting you? Your doctor needs to consider all of these issues before recommending a change in treatment.

Favorite thing about ITP Conference: the feeling of "kindred spirits" among the ITP patients. We know what it is like to walk in each other's shoes. No explanations needed. And for the weekend we are surrounded by people who care about ITP patients and want to make their journey easier. When I leave the conference each year I always feel loved, like I've been given a BIG hug!

Jana (ITP Mom) and Logan (ITP Warrior) Resch

Hometown: Milton, GA

ITP Mom & ITP Warrior since: Logan’s diagnosis in 2012.

Daily Inspiration:
Jana: Watching Logan take charge and not let ITP rule his life!.
Logan: I know that I have ITP, but it's only a small part of who I am.

ITP Survival Tip:
Jana: Establish a good relationship with your hematologist and nurses and ask LOTS of questions. Also connect and share info with others through the PDSA.
Logan: Don't let ITP run who you are or your life. Work with doctors who make sure it doesn't!

Favorite thing about ITP Conference:
Jana: Meeting other parents who have children with ITP and talking with the WONDERFUL doctors who come to the conference!
Logan: Meeting other people with ITP.

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.

Nichola Cooper, MD

Nichola Cooper is a Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Haematologist and at Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College, London, UK. She completed her undergraduate degrees at Cambridge University and Barts and the London Hospital Medical College, University of London, UK. During her haematology training, Dr Cooper undertook a research fellowship at Cornell Medical School, New York Presbyterian Hospital, USA with Jim Bussel, investigating the clinical and laboratory impact of treatments such as rituximab and anti-D immunoglobulin in patients with ITP. She also studied at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital, London, where she gained further experience in both paediatric and adult immunodeficiency disorders. Dr. Cooper runs a clinical and laboratory research programme investigating the causes of haematological autoimmunity. She has authored many papers published in international, peer-reviewed journals including Nature Immunology, Blood and the British Journal of Haematology.

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.

Johanna Gray

Johanna Gray is a Senior Vice President at CRD Associates. She has more than twelve years of experience in health policy and government relations, working with clients to develop and implement successful advocacy strategies involving Congress and federal public health agencies. Johanna’s clients include patient advocacy groups, physician specialty societies, and associations of specialized treatment centers.

Johanna’s expertise in health policy ranges from the broadly applicable private insurance market reforms included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to the specifics of Medicare reimbursement for particular physician services. During the ACA negotiations, Johanna led a coalition of seventy patient advocacy groups and other supporters, which successfully advocated for the elimination of lifetime limits on private health insurance in the law.

Johanna began her career as an intern for then-Senator Barack Obama and held several policy analysis and advocacy positions before joining CRD. Johanna received a Master of Public Administration and Certificate in Health Services Management and Policy from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a B.A. in Public Policy Studies with honors from the University of Chicago.

Andra H. James, MD, MPH

Dr. Andra James is a Consulting Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, where she is also Co-Director of the Comprehensive Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center. Dr. James graduated from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina, and completed her Fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Duke. Her practice, research, and advocacy pertain to reproductive issues among women with hematologic disorders. Dr. James participates or has participated in a number of organizations that serve patients with blood disorders and is currently President of the Foundation for Women and Girls with Blood Disorders. Dr. James also 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.

Michele P. Lambert, MD, MTR

Dr. Lambert is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Medical Director of the Special Coagulation Laboratory at CHOP. She graduated from UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School (now Rutgers) and completed her pediatric residency at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children followed by a year as Chief Resident. She then moved the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia were she completed her fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology.  She received her Masters in Translational Medicine in 2001.  Her research efforts have focused on understanding the control of platelet production by megakaryocytes (the cells that make platelets) and the ways in which genetics influence platelet function and number in various clinical scenarios including ITP and inherited platelet disorders. Dr. Lambert 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 NorrisComprehensiveCancerCenter 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 AngelesCounty - University of Southern California Medical Center. Dr. Liebman completed a research fellowship at TuftsUniversity - New EnglandMedicalCenter, Boston, MA, and held faculty positions at TuftsUniversity and BostonUniversity, 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. 

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 was a Senior Staff Scientist and Head of the Toronto Platelet Immunobiology Group at the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Sciences. He was also a Professor in the Departments of Pharmacology, Medicine and Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto and an Adjunct Scientist with Canadian Blood Services. He joined Lund University in 2016 as a Professor of Transfusion Medicine of St. Michael’s Hospital. 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 and Medical Director of the Bleeding & Clotting Disorders Institute. 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 in 2010.  Dr. Tarantino serves on the PDSA Board of Medical Advisors.