Tag Archives: National Phlebotomists Week

Meet the phlebotomist behind the lifesaving mission

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By Kathryn Dean, American Red Cross volunteer

During Phlebotomist Recognition Week, the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio is proud to spotlight Katie Currenti, who has dedicated 29 years to serving as a Red Cross phlebotomist.

Katie first started working at the Red Cross after moving to the U.S. from Ukraine and studying to become a medical assistant.  Before moving here, she had previously worked as a speech pathologist and held a nursing degree back at home.

Katie Currenti, Red Cross phlebotomist, at the newly opened Willoughby Blood Donation Center

 “When I arrived here in this country, I wanted to continue to help people in the medical field,“ Katie explained, “so I went to school for medical assistance and started my career with the Red Cross, because what better way to continue helping others than making sure lifesaving blood products are available for patients in hospitals.”

Phlebotomists play a vital role in the blood donation process. Specially trained to collect lifesaving blood donations, they ensure each unit is safely prepared for patients in hospitals across the region. Their work extends beyond just basic blood collection as they also comfort and educate donors who come in, greeting them with a smile and providing a friendly, familiar face for repeat donors.

“What keeps me and has kept me here is my (Red Cross) family, which includes staff and, most of all, donors and volunteers.” Katie reflected, “I have come to know so many who have walked through these doors and continue to make new ones.  I feel privileged that what I do truly matters to so many and know that all of us together have saved millions upon millions of lives in 29 years!”

Katie primarily works at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in Parma, Ohio, and also supports the newest Northern Ohio blood donation center in Willoughby.

This Phlebotomist Recognition Week, help honor Katie and other Red Cross blood donation heroes by scheduling an appointment to give blood.  Donors who give between now and February 28, 2026, will receive a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. Visit  RedCrossBlood.org to find a blood drive or blood donation center near you.

Celebrating National Phlebotomists Week

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Recognizing the men and women who collect lifesaving blood

By Eilene Guy, American Red Cross volunteer

One of the key activities of the American Red Cross is collecting, testing and distributing blood for trauma victims, cancer and sickle cell “warriors” and others in need of critical treatment.

Phlebotomists – the men and women who skillfully slide needles into arms – are vital connections between our blood donors and those who need lifesaving transfusions.

This week, the Red Cross salutes its 5,500 team members across the country who collect nearly 2.5 million blood and platelet donations each year.

If you have trouble wrapping your mind around the word “phlebotomist,” just relax and picture Safeyyah Edwards in her deep red and black scrubs, gently but efficiently preparing a donor for their “pinch.”

Safeyyah Edwards

Safeyyah has been drawing blood for 23 years for the Red Cross and she values the donor/friends she’s made at the Cleveland blood, platelet and plasma donation center.

“We refer to them as ‘my donor.’ They become like family. We hear their stories, we hear why they donate; we see pictures of their kids, events in their lives.”

“Phlebotomists help people help people,” Safeyyah says, referring to the fact that trained professionals like her make it possible for donors to give the gift of life, mostly for people they don’t even know.

“I am just in awe,” she says respectfully. “Some people are just terrified when they come for the first time, but they want to donate; they want to save lives.

“We do have good people out there.”

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. As the provider of nearly half of the nation’s blood supply, the Red Cross relies on phlebotomists to help fill that need. They strive to give volunteer donors a safe and positive experience while ensuring that blood is collected properly for the safety of recipients.

Safeyyah and her fellow professionals – You wouldn’t want to trust a blood draw or transfusion needle to an amateur, would you? – are especially crucial at a time like this: Seasonal illnesses and extreme weather events have cancelled hundreds of blood drives, leading to a nationwide blood emergency.

In the 31 counties of the northern Ohio region, the Red Cross needs to collect some 500 donations a week to meet the needs of more than 70 local hospitals.

To make an appointment to donate at a Red Cross blood drive near you, go online to redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

And if you’re interested in a rewarding role in the medical field, the Red Cross offers training to become a certified phlebotomist. This link will take you to a variety of career opportunities in blood collection: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/careers/pbjob-types/blood-collection.html