Blue skies and rolling green hills of the Central Valley surrounded more than 175 guests who made their way to Valley Children’s and Yosemite for the 2024 Annual Conference of the Western States Regional Hemophilia Network.
More than a dozen guests kicked off the weekend with a tour of Valley Children’s and got a first-hand look at our Cancer and Blood Disorders Center before joining the others for the thought-provoking, educational weekend that focused on dilemmas in rare bleeding disorders, thrombosis, genetics, innovative therapies and more.
“Each year, the Center for Inherited Blood Disorders (CIBD) does an incredible job at taking a deep dive into important topics and advancements in hemophilia — to co-host this event which is a staple for hemophilia professionals was an incredible privilege,” shared Valley Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Medical Director Dr. Vinod Balasa.
This was a first-time honor for the Center who welcome the Western States/Region IX Hemophilia Network (WSRHN/RIX) which represents 13 Hemostasis and Thrombosis Treatment Centers (HTC) in California, Guam, Hawaii, and Nevada. HTCs specialize in providing multidisciplinary comprehensive medical care and related services to improve the health and well-being of people of all ages who have bleeding and clotting disorders that are rare, chronic, complex and inherited.
Valley Children’s staff from the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, as well as pharmacy, research, social work, marketing and communications, physical therapy and genetics were also able to join the interactive weekend.
Among the many incredible presenters were Valley Children’s Nurse Practitioner Terea Giannetta, Manager of Genetic Counseling and Precision Medicine Jason Carmichael and Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist Dr. Latha Rao. Brenda Lopez and Sarah Saravia from research also shared two poster presentations.
“Dr. Balasa and the Valley Children’s team created an engaging agenda and brought in nationally recognized speakers to complement their own experts for a wonderful educational and network building conference with Yosemite as our backdrop,” added Dr. Amit Soni, Principal Investigator for the WSRHN and Medical Director for CIBD.