Aft To Chair Hoxworth Community Advisory Board

Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, is pleased to announce that Dick Aft, retired president of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, has been elected chair of the Hoxworth Blood Center Community Advisory Board.

"Most folks are familiar with Hoxworth as our region's blood bank, but few people are aware that it is a nationally unique medical research center." Aft said. "All of us on this Community Advisory Board are proud to work with Hoxworth’s internationally prominent staff. It is a jewel in UC’s crown as a leader in research and innovation in the extension of ‘shelf-life’ of donated blood and blood products and the conversion of individual's own blood as a weapon against cancer cells in their own bodies."

Since retiring in 2001 after 14 years of local United Way leadership, Aft has earned a Ph.D. in organizational leadership and development, spent 10 years teaching values based management to Xavier University MBA students and served "of counsel" with Gilman Partners Executive Search and Placement.  He has also written four books of local, national and international United Way history.

In addition to chairing the Hoxworth Community Advisory Board, Aft also chairs the Emeritus Board of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and serves on the boards of  Union Institute and University, CCMpower (formerly Friends of CCM) and the Ohio United Way. He chaired the national United Way Retirees Association this past year.

Aft's volunteer service often takes him to non-profit organizations throughout Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the University of Warsaw, Poland’s ‘Visiting Scholar in Leadership” during July of this year. Recently, Prevention First

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formerly the Coalitions for a Drug Free Greater Cincinnati

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presented him with the inaugural Rob Portman Leadership Award in honor of his professional and volunteer leadership

“Dick brings a wealth of experience to our Community Advisory Board. I have great confidence that his leadership and dedication will be an asset to our organization”, states Dr. Ronald Sacher, director Hoxworth Blood Center. 

Hoxworth Blood Center is a leader in transfusion medicine, developing strength in areas uncommon to many blood centers. The blood center boasts expertise in Research, Cellular Therapies, Transplantation Immunohematology and teaching Transfusion Medicine to future blood bank leaders.

About Hoxworth:
Founded in 1938, Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, serves 30 hospitals in 17 counties in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana.  Annually, Hoxworth collects more than 70,000 units of blood from local donors to help save the lives of patients in area hospitals. Hoxworth Blood Center. All blood types welcome.