Hoxworth Blood Center CEO advocates on Capitol Hill during National Blood Advocacy Week

Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, has announced that David Oh, MD,  director and chief executive officer, joined blood center leaders, patient advocates and partner organizations in Washington, D.C., in June as part of Blood Advocacy Week, a national initiative led by America’s Blood Centers to strengthen the nation’s blood supply.

Blood Advocacy Week (June 8–12, 2026) united more than 100 organizations to encourage Congress to strengthen the nation's blood supply through policies that support prehospital access to blood, donor recruitment and a safe, reliable blood supply. Hoxworth Blood Center participated in the campaign, with Oh joining colleagues in Washington, D.C., for the Advocacy Summit, where they received advocacy training and met with congressional offices.

“As the community blood center for the Greater Cincinnati region, we see every day how essential blood is for trauma care, cancer treatment, complex surgeries and patients living with chronic conditions,” said Oh, who is also Hoxworth's chief medical officer. “Blood cannot be manufactured, and our hospitals depend on volunteer donors and a resilient national blood system. Our message to Congress is simple: Patients’ lives depend on a strong, stable blood supply, and federal policy must reflect that reality.”

Blood transfusion remains a critical part of modern medicine, with a patient in the United States requiring one approximately every two seconds. Community-based blood centers like Hoxworth collect the majority of the blood used by patients each year, yet face ongoing challenges, including declines in younger donors and the long-term impact of fewer school and workplace blood drives.

“Advocacy is an extension of our mission,” Oh added. “Our donors in Greater Cincinnati step up every day to help local patients. By bringing their stories and our clinical experience to Capitol Hill, we are making sure their generosity translates into policies that protect access to blood for every patient who needs it — here at home and across the country.”