Ontario Blood Advisory Committee

The Ontario Blood Advisory Committee (OBAC) is a multi-disciplinary advisory group to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on blood system issues in the province and serves as a mechanism for ongoing dialogue and coordination among blood system stakeholders, Canadian Blood Services (CBS) and the BPCO. 

OBAC provides guidance and assists the BPCO with prioritizing issues relating to transfusion services that need to be addressed within the province.  The BPCO serves as the secretariat for OBAC.  Members include:

• Dr. John Freedman, St. Michael's Hospital (Chair)
• Dr. Antonio Giulivi, The Ottawa Hospital
• Dr. Davy Cheng, London Health Sciences Centre
• Dr. Alison Collins, Peterborough Regional Health Centre
• Ms. Sandra Hett, St. Mary’s General Hospital
• Mr. Riyad Elbard, Patient/Consumer Representative
• Dr. Ian Chin-Yee, London Health Sciences Centre
• Dr. Alan Tinmouth, The Ottawa Hospital
• Ms. Mary Lynn Hall, Ontario Transfusion Coordinators (ONTraC) Program
• Dr. Terrance Yau, University Health Network
• Ms. Kathleen Eckert, London Health Sciences Centre
• Dr. Katerina Pavenski, St. Michael's Hospital
• Dr. Jacob Pendergrast, University Health Network
• Ms. Kate Gagliardi, Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network (ORBCoN)
• Mr. Rob Romans, Canadian Blood Services
• Ms. Doris Neurath, The Ottawa Hospital
• Ms. Julia Sek, St. Michael’s Hospital
• Ms. Karen Sequeira, Ontario Hospital Association
• Dr. Lois Shepherd, Kingston General Hospital
• Ms. Durhane Wong-Rieger, Anemia Institute of Research and Education

There are currently two working groups that have been established to carry out special projects.  These groups are chaired by OBAC members.

Contingency Planning Working Group – will address the development of a provincial contingency plan that will ensure a standardized and coordinated response by Ontario hospitals to any potential disruption to the blood and blood products supply in Ontario.

Blood Utilization Tracking System Working Group – will develop and implement a provincial blood utilization tracking system.