BBANYS Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Kevin Dell’Aquila, a pathology resident at NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island, explores babesiosis, an intraerythrocytic parasitic infection with deep roots in New York, where the state’s first human case was identified in Suffolk County in 1975. He covers how Babesia spreads through tick bites, mother-to-fetus transmission, and blood transfusion. He also explains why the same tick that carries Lyme disease and anaplasmosis makes coinfection a real clinical concern. The episode then turns to transfusion-transmitted babesiosis: why asymptomatic donors can carry the parasite for months, why vulnerable recipients face the greatest risk, and how donor screening and New York’s reporting requirements help protect patients. It’s a concise look at an underrecognized threat to transfusion safety and what blood bank professionals can do about it.

Learn more at bbanys.org

In this episode, Sara Conway, MD, presents a discussion written in collaboration with Max Hershkop, DO, both of NYU Langone Health, on Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN). The pathophysiology of HDFN, advances in diagnosis and management, and the increasing recognition of clinically significant non-D antibodies are all explored. Additionally, insight is given on emerging technologies, multidisciplinary care, and the challenges that continue to shape modern transfusion medicine.

Transfusion‑Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO) remains among the most serious and misunderstood adverse events in modern medicine. This podcast episode explores how clinicians can recognize TACO quickly and manage it safely, distinguish TACO from Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI), and prevent TACO from future occurrences through smarter transfusion practices.

About Dr. Wu:

Dr. Ding Wen Wu, MD, PhD, is a Clinical Professor of Pathology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Medical Director of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn. She earned her MD from Shanghai Second Medical University and her PhD from the University of Notre Dame, followed by pathology residency training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a Transfusion Medicine fellowship at the New York Blood Center.

Throughout her career, Dr. Wu has held leadership positions at several major academic medical centers and health systems. She is dedicated to advancing patient care, clinical research, and excellence in transfusion medicine and laboratory practice. Dr. Wu has received multiple Outstanding Teaching Awards in recognition of her passionate commitment to the education of pathology residents, an honor bestowed through resident nominations at several institutions.

In this episode, Dr. Phuong-Lan Nguyen, a transfusion medicine attending physician/assistant professor at University of Rochester Medicine, explores the history of whole blood and its origins in the concepts of balanced component resuscitation therapies, the properties of whole blood in its various forms and purported advantages, and the recent research studies on both in hospital and pre-hospital whole blood transfusions. She discusses the limitations of the existing research literature on whole blood, as well as what needs to be investigated in future whole blood studies as far as transfusion safety, efficacy, and applications.

In this episode, Dr. Kadesh Daniels unpacks an interesting transfusion medicine case where routine testing cleared a patient for transfusion—yet a hidden incompatibility still triggered a reaction. Discover how a rare Anti-Wrᵃ antibody evaded detection, what this reveals about crossmatching limitations, and why even the most reliable systems can miss uncommon risks. Learn more at bbanys.org.

In this episode, Dr. Nicholas Tong, an assistant blood bank medical director with Northwell Health at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and Dr. Syed Qasid, a Northwell pathology resident, discuss the U-antigen and an interesting case involving a woman who was found to have anti-U during the course of her pregnancy. The challenges of obtaining U-negative blood and the importance of communication and a multidisciplinary approach to handling a complex situation will be highlighted.

In this episode, we sit down with Kristin Sticco, DO, and Nidhi Kataria, MD, two faculty who practice hematopathology and transfusion medicine. They share how combining these specialties shapes their approach to patient care, the unique perspectives each field brings to the other, and what drew them to a career spanning both the laboratory and clinical consultation.

Did you know that every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood? In this episode of the BBANYS podcast, Dr. Victoria Costa of NYU Langone Health starts with some eye-opening statistics about blood donation, before outlining five of the top reasons to become a donor.

Remember, when you donate, you’re not just giving blood—you’re giving hope.

In this episode, Dr. Adriana Garrison walks listeners through the complex world of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a life-threatening hematologic emergency. From the earliest laboratory clues to the urgency of clinical recognition, we explore how TTP presents, the key diagnostic tools including the PLASMIC score and ADAMTS13 testing, and the evidence-based treatment strategies that save lives. Dr. Garrison highlights the subtleties of diagnosis, practical tips for differentiating TTP from other thrombotic microangiopathies, and the critical timing of interventions such as plasma exchange and immunotherapy. This episode offers a concise, high-yield guide for clinicians, trainees, and anyone interested in understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of TTP. Learn more at bbanys.org

In this episode, Dr. Sadhika Sood interviews Dr. Nalan Yurtsever and Dr. Treyc Terry about social media use in the fields of pathology and transfusion medicine. We'll be talking about their personal and professional experiences with social media use, including benefits and the potential pitfalls, along with its impact on the future of pathology—be sure to tune in and listen!