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Rowena Punzalan, MD - Medical Director Transfusion Medicine

Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine Fellowship Program

This program, jointly offered by Versiti and the Medical College of Wisconsin, aims to train future leaders in blood banking and transfusion medicine.

Blood Banking/ Transfusion Medicine Fellowship


Our Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine (BBTM) Fellowship Program, jointly offered by the Medical College of Wisconsin and Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin, aims to train future leaders in Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine.

This one-year fellowship provides graduates with a wide range of training that prepares them to undertake any job in the field of blood banking/transfusion medicine (BBTM). Transfusion medicine, pathology and hematology faculty from Versiti and the Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Pathology provide clinical, educational and research mentorship.

Rowena Punzalan, MD
Program Director
  • rpunzalan@versiti.org
    • Lisa Anderson
    Program Coordinator
  • 414-937-6106
  • LAAnderson@versiti.org

    • Core rotations:

    • Transfusion service and therapeutic apheresis consults (24 weeks)
    • Basics of therapeutic apheresis
    • Immunohematology (4 weeks)
    • Hemostasis, platelet and neutrophil immunology, histocompatibility, and immunogenetics
    • Stem cell processing
    • Organ and tissue donation
    • Blood center operations and quality
    • Blood collection and processing
    • Donor management
    • Donor testing
    • Quality management and regulatory
    • Research
    • Elective

    In addition, we offer a uniquely flexible curriculum that allows the fellow to identify a particular area of interest and spend additional time in training and research. Current training tracks include:

    • Coagulation
    • Therapeutic apheresis
    • Pediatric transfusion medicine
    • Immunohematology

    Other features:

    Didactic teaching

    1. Weekly lecture series covering all aspects of BBTM
    2. Journal club
    3. Research talks
    4. Teaching residents, medical technologists, medical students, Specialist in Blood Banking students and other allied health professionals

    Research

    1. Protected research time
    2. Mentoring in clinical, basic science and translational research from medical and research faculty at Versiti Blood Research Institute and the Medical College of Wisconsin

    Training Locations

    • Internationally known diagnostic reference laboratories in immunohematology, platelet and neutrophil immunology, hemostasis, histocompatibility, and molecular diagnostics
    • Versiti Blood Research Institute and Versiti Medical Sciences Institute
    • Versiti Blood Centers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin

    • Froedtert Hospital is a 400-bed, level 1 trauma center with programs in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, CAR-T therapy, high-risk obstetrics, solid organ transplantation, sickle cell disease, hemophilia and neuromuscular disorders.
    • Children’s Wisconsin is a 300-bed tertiary care pediatric hospital and level 1 trauma center with programs in cardiac, renal and liver transplantation; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and CAR-T therapy; oncology; sickle cell disease; and hemophilia.

    • The Advocate Aurora system includes a quaternary care hospital that specializes in cardiothoracic surgery, a maternity hospital and several community hospitals, with a total of 80,000 transfusions and 2,500 serologic workups per year.

    Application

    All candidates must be certified or eligible for certification in clinical pathology, hematology/oncology (adult or pediatric) or other major specialty boards. Stipends are commensurate with the level of relevant post-graduate training and expertise.

    Applicants are currently being accepted for 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028 academic years.

    Eligible candidates interested in applying should send their CV and a letter of interest to: 

    Rowena Punzalan, MD
    Program Director
  • rpunzalan@versiti.org
    • Lisa Anderson
    Program Coordinator
  • 414-937-6106
  • LAAnderson@versiti.org

    • Living in Milwaukee

     

    Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is a city with a small-town feel. Museums, festivals, amazing restaurants, sporting events and brewery tours are just a few of the great things to do here. Chicago and Madison are also a short drive away. Learn more about relocating to Milwaukee.

    Alumni

    100% of alumni have passed the American Board of Pathology BBTM board exams on their first try. After completion of the transfusion medicine fellowship program, our alumni have gone on to work in several types of practice settings located in the United States and Canada.

    Alumni Locations

    Alumni Locations

    Areas of Focus

    Alumni Practice Settings

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