(Elaine Schmidt, Recruiter of the Year recipient (left) and Anita Humphreys, RPCI Blood Donor Recruiter)

Elaine Schmidt, RPCI Senior Medical Billing Clerk and coordinator of the Patient Accounts departmental blood drive explains their group got involved when they first heard of the hospital's need to collect more whole blood. Elaine explains, "At first, we were only able to sign up a few people". Then, as Elaine coordinated subsequent blood drives, she began a crusade of personally asking every person in her department as well as other RPCI employees and even visitors to Roswell Park. It didn't take long for Patient Accounts to become one of the most successful internal blood drives signing up 30 donors with their most recent drive. Elaine's group earns a free lunch every drive and tells us her group appreciates the kindness and professionalism of the blood collections nurses and the opportunity to help patients at Roswell Park.

Elaine's success and dedication made her an easy pick for "Recruiter of the Year". Congratulations Elaine!