In this episode, you'll hear a conversation with transfusion medicine expert Michelle Mullens about how blood donation underpins patient health and the critical role it plays in healthcare. Discover how donated blood is vital not only for trauma care, but also for cancer treatments, chronic illnesses like sickle cell disease, and a wide range of surgeries. The discussion explores the growing challenges of blood supply shortages, the importance of specialized blood types, and how automation in blood banks is helping labs maintain safety and efficiency despite staffing pressures. Learn how each donation makes a difference and why maintaining a robust blood supply is essential for patient care and safety.   About our speaker: Michelle Mullens Global Portfolio Marketing Manager for Transfusion Medicine, QuidelOrtho Before beginning her career on the vendor side with QuidelOrtho, Michelle was a senior medical technologist at Baptist Health, serving in leadership roles in transfusion medicine and immunohematology for nearly 30 years. With QuidelOrtho, Michelle has served as a technical specialist, business development consultant and clinical science liaison before taking on her current role.