Welcome to the World Apheresis Association

In September 2024, at the conclusion of the very successful 18th International congress of the World Apheresis Association, I assumed the office of the president of the World Apheresis Association from Dr. Hans Vrielink.
First, I’d like to thank Dr. Vrielink for his work as president, his successful efforts to promote our association and further its mission, especially in the recent organization of a historical meeting in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Dr. Vrielink embodies the mission of the WAA to bring apheresis to the whole world including and especially low- and middle-income countries.
It’s been a pleasure to see more and more associations from middle income countries join the WAA in the last few years — an important development considering apheresis involves not only patient apheresis but also donor processes, which includes collecting critical blood products needed across the globe. I am grateful to continue Dr. Vrielink’s work and further position the WAA as a leader in Apheresis across the globe. I am filled with gratitude to pursue my hobby, professionally – to share my knowledge of apheresis, blood banking and transfusion medicine with colleagues all over the world and use my expertise to adapt systems and processes in donor and patient care.
In my long tenure working in the field, I’ve been involved with Apheresis across many levels – providing apheresis for both donors and patients, educating many trainees in the US and internationally to become apheresis professionals, collaborating with colleagues across the globe to promote Apheresis. It’s been a distinct honor to collaborate on the question-writing for the Qualification in Apheresis (QIA), the designated examination for Apheresis practitioners, as well as centering Apheresis in the cellular therapy arena as the ‘ starting material’ provider for both transplantation and further manufacturing. I will continue to work in those areas for the benefit of WAA and its members.
As we are looking forward to the next few years, we also would like to continue to align efforts between WAA and other Apheresis organizations such as the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA), the International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT) and the International Society for Apheresis (ISFA). We hope to collaborate on the mutual goal of promoting Apheresis worldwide.
In this spirit, I am pleased to announce that the 19th International Congress of the World Apheresis Association is going to be held in 2026 as a joint meeting of the WAA and ASFA. Details forthcoming on what is sure to be an important event in our field.
Looking forward to working with all WAA member societies throughout my tenure as president. Wishing you all a great holiday season and a happy and healthy 2025.