Senior Transfusion Services Leader (Remote Role)

Vicki Lynne Blackburn, MT(ASCP), SBB

Transfusion Services Supervisor Blood Bank Operations Leader

Evensville, TN

423-***-**** *******************@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

SBB-certified transfusion medicine professional with more than 30 years of progressive experience in hospital transfusion services, Level 1 and Level 2 trauma centers, immunohematology reference laboratories, regional blood centers, and laboratory quality systems. Proven leadership in transfusion service operations, staff competency assessment, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and complex immunohematology problem solving.

Extensive experience supporting high-acuity transfusion services including emergency release protocols, trauma support, blood product management, complex antibody investigations, and regulatory inspection readiness. Recognized for strong technical leadership, operational oversight, collaboration with pathology and clinical teams, and commitment to patient safety and quality outcomes.

Strong working knowledge of CAP, AABB, FDA, CLIA, OSHA, quality systems, blood utilization review, corrective action processes, and competency-based laboratory education.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Transfusion Service Operations

Trauma & Emergency Transfusion Support

Blood Bank Leadership & Technical Oversight

Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP)

Regulatory Compliance (CAP, AABB, FDA, CLIA, OSHA)

Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement

Staff Competency Assessment & Training

Blood Utilization Review & CQI Reporting

Complex Antibody Identification

Immunohematology Reference Laboratory Operations

SOP Development & Documentation

CAP/AABB Inspection Readiness

Blood Product Management & Inventory Support

Technical Consultation & Problem Resolution

LIS & Blood Bank Software Systems

Leadership, Scheduling & Team Development

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Transfusion Services Supervisor Blood Supply Leader Red Cell Department Manager

Quality Assurance Laboratory Liaison Second Shift Team Leader

Virtual Instructor Supervisor

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Transfusion Services Supervisor

CHI Memorial Hospital & CHI Memorial-Hixson – Chattanooga, TN 06/2013 – 04/2016

Oversaw transfusion service operations for CHI Memorial Hospital, a Level 2 trauma center, and the associated CHI Memorial-Hixson campus.

Coordinated daily Blood Bank operations to ensure accurate patient testing, timely blood product availability, and compliance with regulatory and quality standards.

Supported emergency release procedures, trauma transfusion support, blood product management, and complex immunohematology problem resolution.

Managed staff competency assessments, scheduling, MT student rotations, onboarding, and continuing education activities.

Developed and maintained quality management, performance improvement, and blood utilization review programs for Transfusion Services.

Produced operational, quality, utilization, and CQI metric reports for hospital leadership, pathology leadership, and medical directors.

Led inspection readiness activities and corrective action processes related to CAP, AABB, OSHA, CLIA, and state regulatory requirements.

Collaborated closely with pathologists, nursing leadership, trauma teams, and regional blood center medical directors on utilization and operational initiatives.

Assisted in policy, procedure, competency, and workflow review to support operational consistency and patient safety.

Participated on CAP inspection teams assessing transfusion service operations throughout the Nashville region.

Transfusion Medicine Specialist – Level 1 Trauma Services

Baroness Erlanger Hospital – Chattanooga, TN 11/2025 – Present

Perform advanced transfusion service testing in a high-volume Level 1 trauma center environment.

Support trauma and emergency transfusion operations including complex antibody investigations, blood product selection, and urgent transfusion support.

Provide technical expertise and consultation for challenging immunohematology and compatibility cases.

Assist with regulatory compliance, quality initiatives, patient safety activities, and blood product management.

Collaborate with pathology, nursing, and clinical teams to support timely transfusion services and optimal patient outcomes.

IRL Testing Reviewer

American Red Cross 01/2018 – 03/2024

Served as technical reviewer supporting three major American Red Cross Immunohematology Reference Laboratories.

Reviewed more than 12,000 complex antibody identification cases with a documented error rate below 0.25%.

Performed advanced technical review of complex immunohematology investigations, antigen testing, product release, and transfusion recommendations.

Identified and resolved technical discrepancies, documentation issues, and compliance concerns prior to final case release.

Provided technical consultation and problem-solving support for difficult serologic investigations and transfusion support cases.

Supported quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and risk reduction activities related to FDA, AABB, CAP, and internal standards.

Virtual Instructor Supervisor (Contracted to American Red Cross)

Computer Generated Solutions (CGS) – Remote 03/2024 – 07/2025

Led virtual and hybrid training programs for American Red Cross Biomedical Services employees nationwide.

Supported competency-based education and operational training across IRL, manufacturing, distribution, quality control, and service delivery programs.

Managed learner documentation, competency tracking, scheduling, and compliance activities utilizing WellSky, SmartSolve, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and related training platforms.

Collaborated with laboratory leadership and onsite educators to support workforce development and operational readiness.

Immunohematology Reference Laboratory (IRL) Reference Tech III

American Red Cross Southern Region – Atlanta Midtown & Douglasville, GA 12/2004 – 07/2006 and 03/2017 – 01/2018

Performed advanced immunohematology testing for regional hospitals and transfusion services.

Conducted complex antibody investigations, compatibility testing, adsorption/elution studies, enzyme and chemical treatment procedures, and rare donor evaluations.

Supported selection and verification of specialized blood products including antigen-negative, CMV-negative, irradiated, washed, and genotype-matched units.

Maintained compliance with regional and national IRL procedures, competency standards, and CAP survey requirements.

Provided technical consultation and customer support to hospitals and transfusion facilities.

Reference Laboratory Technologist

Medic Regional Blood Center – Knoxville, TN 04/2016 – 12/2016

Performed immunohematology reference laboratory testing and antibody investigations.

Supported transfusion services through advanced serologic testing and product selection.

Assisted with quality, compliance, and technical problem-solving activities.

Blood Supply Leader / Red Cell Department Manager

Immucor-Gamma, Inc. (now Werfen) – Norcross, GA 10/2005 – 05/2013

Managed red cell manufacturing operations supporting production of reagent red blood cell products utilized globally.

Supervised production workflow, donor assignment, product specifications, and final product release coordination.

Led staff oversight, quality initiatives, workflow management, and regulatory compliance activities within a high-volume manufacturing environment.

Collaborated with quality control, validation, and manufacturing teams to support process improvement and operational efficiency.

Worked extensively with antibody screening cells, antibody identification panels, quality systems, and CAP/AABB compliance standards.

Blood Assurance – Progressive Leadership Roles

Blood Assurance – Chattanooga, TN 08/1996 – 11/2004

Positions included Blood Bank Specialist, Quality Assurance Lab Liaison, Second Shift Team Leader, and Viral Laboratory Lead Technologist.

Performed transfusion service, donor testing, component manufacturing, and distribution operations within a regional blood center environment.

Introduced and trained staff in advanced immunohematology procedures, including triple adsorption techniques.

Conducted staff training, competency assessments, and technical mentoring for laboratory technologists, component manufacturing staff, and distribution personnel.

Supervised second shift laboratory operations and provided operational oversight for multiple laboratory functions.

Managed Viral Laboratory operations and supported donor testing activities.

Served as Quality Assurance Laboratory Liaison with responsibilities including batch release review, recalls, market withdrawals, lookbacks, and compliance-related investigations.

Participated in audits, inspections, CAP survey activities, SOP review, and regulatory compliance initiatives.

Developed extensive experience in blood center operations, quality systems, staff development, and laboratory workflow management.

EDUCATION

Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) Program Certificate

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) – Galveston, TX 2002

Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology

University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN 1994

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSURE

SBB(ASCP), 2002–Present

MT(ASCP), 1995–Present

Tennessee Medical Laboratory Supervisor License

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ENGAGEMENT

Member, AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies)

Member, Tennessee Association of Blood Banks (TABB)

Former TABB conference presenter and committee participant

CAP inspection and audit experience

Ongoing professional collaboration with transfusion medicine specialists, blood center leadership, and immunohematology reference laboratory professionals nationwide

LABORATORY SYSTEMS & INSTRUMENTATION

Instrumentation: Ortho Vision, Provue, Galileo, Echo, Neo, Rosys, Tango, Abbott Prism, Abbott Commander Systems, Olympus PK7200, BacT/ALERT, Cobe Cell Washers, and multiple hematology analyzers.

Software Platforms: WellSky Transfusion, BloodHub/Connect, eProgesa, SmartSolve, Cerner, Epic, Meditech, Sunquest, Horizon, Soft, BBMS, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Workday, Edge/Cornerstone, Microsoft Office Suite.

SELECTED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Reviewed more than 12,000 complex antibody identification cases for American Red Cross IRLs with documented error rate below 0.25%.

Extensive experience supporting hospitals, trauma centers, blood centers, manufacturing operations, and immunohematology reference laboratories.

More than 20 years of experience in staff training, competency assessment, technical mentorship, and workforce development.

Strong experience supporting CAP, AABB, FDA, CLIA, OSHA, and laboratory quality system standards.

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