At the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation’s 76th annual Bleeding Disorders Conference on September 14, 2024 in Atlanta, BCDI CEO/CMO Dr. Michael Tarantino earned the distinguished honor of NBDF’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The NBDF Lifetime Achievement award is given in honor of Dick James, and recognizes an individual who has dedicated their life to the inheritable blood and bleeding disorders community to improve the lives of those affected. The recipient has contributed their time and energy on a national or international scale to advance research, care, and advocacy, and develop new leadership that will lead NBDF into the future. Dick James [1951-1993], who had hemophilia and AIDS, was an advocate and leader on behalf of people with inheritable blood and bleeding disorders and HIV.

Dr. Tarantino earned a medical degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1987, after which he completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center and a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at the University of Wisconsin. He is board certified in pediatric hematology/oncology and has more than 30 years of experience caring for children and adults with blood and/or clotting disorders. Dr. Tarantino began working as a hematologist in Peoria in 1999, and founded the Bleeding & Clotting Disorders Institute in 2010. In the 14+ years of its history, BCDI’s staff has helped treat over 8,000 patients with bleeding, blood clotting or other blood disorders. Dr. Tarantino also serves as Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine–Peoria and maintains an academic program of clinical and translational research. He is considered a national and international thought leader in the areas of hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, thrombophilia, primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and other platelet disorders. He has authored or co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and numerous reviews and book chapters, along with over 160 scientific abstracts.

 

 

Dr. Tarantino is passionate about advocating on behalf of individuals with bleeding and clotting disorders, and as a result, leads the way for improvements within this community. With NBDF, he served as a member of the Medical Advisory and Scientific Council from 2012 – 2022. In 2012, Dr. Tarantino was awarded the Physician of the Year by NBDF and in 2018 was honored with the Excellence in Healthcare Award by NBDF. Since 2006, Dr. Tarantino has served on the Medical Advisory Board of the Platelet Disorder Support Association (Chairman from July 2021 – July 2024) and is leading the charge to educate members of Congress about promoting a national network of centers of excellence for ITP using an adapted model of comprehensive care based on the first ever ITP comprehensive care clinic in the United States, which was held at BCDI in 2017.

Dr. Tarantino was unable to attend, but BCDI COO/CDFO Becky Burns and BCDI Director of Outreach & Communications Matt McClain accepted the award on his behalf. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Tarantino for receiving the 2024 NBDF Lifetime Achievement Award!

MORE- WMBD-TV’s story on Dr. Tarantino winning the NBDF Lifetime Achievement Award.

The NBDF Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed to Dr. Michael Tarantino on Saturday, September 14, 2024.