Faculty
Majed A. Refaai, M.D.
Assistant Director of the Blood Bank; Associate Director of Pathology Residency Program;
Director, Transfusion Medicine Fellowship
University of Rochester Medical Center
Dr. Refaai is the Director of the thrombosis and hemostasis lab, Associate Director of the Transfusion Medicine/Blood Bank, Associate Director of Apheresis, and Director of the Patient Blood Management Program. Dr. Refaai received his medical degree from the Aleppo University School of Medicine in Syria. He then joined Massachusetts General hospital/Harvard University in Boston, MA as a research fellow in a special coagulation research lab. Dr. Refaai completed a residency in clinical pathology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and held a fellowship in transfusion medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. His research focuses on the in vitro and in vivo effects of ABO antibodies on platelet function and coagulation. He is also involved in clinical trials of emergency reversal of coagulopathy, as well as treatments for deep vein thrombosis and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Dr. Refaai is board certified in clinical pathology and serves as a reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed journals, including Thrombosis Research, the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and the Journal of Clinical Apheresis.
Neil Blumberg, M.D.
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of Rochester Medical Center
Dr. Blumberg is the Director of Transfusion Medicine/Blood Bank as well as the Director of Clinical Laboratories, Strong Memorial Hospital. Dr. Blumberg has a long standing interest in training future generations of physician investigators and clinicians in transfusion medicine. Our fellowship program is new, but many residents from our program have gone on to national leadership positions in transfusion medicine or pathology and laboratory medicine. Dr. Blumberg’s long term research interests include transfusion immunology, including immunomodulation and clinical outcomes research, platelet biology and transfusion, and the role of the ABO blood group system in bleeding, thrombosis and mortality after ABO non-identical transfusion. He is the attending physician for the transfusion service one week each month. Fellows will also have an opportunity, if interested, to participate in research and administrative projects under his mentorship.
Christine Cahill, MS, BSN, RN
Coordinator, Patient Blood Management Program
Christine is the Senior Nurse Coordinator of the Patient Blood Management program at University of Rochester Medical Center. She is a certified Lean Practitioner and earned certification in the fundamentals of Patient Blood Management. Her clinical background is in critical care of pediatric patients with congenital heart defects. In her current position, Christine has used her expertise to launch numerous blood management initiatives, such as an anemia management program, bloodless medicine consultation, resident transfusion medicine rotation, and other educational opportunities for staff on best practices related to proper utilization and transfusion of blood products.
Debra Masel, MT(ASCP)SBB
Chief Supervisor
Debra Masel is the Chief Supervisor of Transfusion Medicine/Blood Bank at Strong Memorial Hospital. Debbie graduated from Albany College of Pharmacy and St. Peter’s School of Medical Technology. She obtained her Specialist in Blood Banking certification from ASCP. Prior to her current position, Debbie worked as a Research Associate for Dr. Joanna Heal at the American Red Cross and also worked with Dr. Blumberg on various research initiatives related primarily to platelet biology and the effects of ABO matching/mismatching in transfusion medicine.
Phuong-Lan Nguyen, M.D. 
Assistant Professor
Dr. Nguyen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. In 2018, Dr. Nguyen completed medical school at Wayne State University School of Medicine. She then went on to complete her residency at UK Healthcare in 2021, and in 2022, she finished her fellowship at Mayo Clinic.
Akua A. Asante, M.D. 
Assistant Professor
Dr. Asante is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine as well as the Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology. In 2011, Dr. Asante completed her medical degree at American University of the Caribbean. She completed her residency in pediatrics at OSF St. Franciss Medical Center in 2015, as well as her fellowship in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in 2018.