The Community Engagement WG provides consultative advice to researchers during project development regarding the impact of research on community stakeholders (blood donors, transfusion recipients and Canadians at large), and engages community stakeholder individuals in transfusion research initiatives. This WG’s focus is strengthening partnerships with the research community, patients and their families, donors, and blood operators along with increasing collaboration with other trials networks. Current projects include providing a written guidance document outlining an approach to community stakeholder involvement in research and developing a resource which includes a summary of stakeholder websites and contact information.

The Working Group’s Terms of Reference are found here. CTTG-Community-Engagement-Working-Group-Terms-of-Reference

List of Engagement References and Resources: List of Engagement References and Resources_Final

List of Interest Holder Groups in Transfusion Medicine List of Interest Holder Groups in Transfusion Medicine 29Jul2026

Working Group Participants: 

Dr. Michelle (Mickey) Zeller: Hamilton Health Sciences Center/CBS (Chair)

Dr. Kelly Holloway: Medical Sociologist, CBS (Vice-chair)

Dr. Melanie Bodnar: Hematology and Hematopathology, Medical Officer, Edmonton CBS

Dr. Aditi Khandelwal: Hematologist and Medical Officer, Toronto CBS

Andrew Macleod: Manager, Stakeholder Engagement, CBS

Deena Richter: Donor representative; McMaster University

Dionne Young: Patient representative & MLT in TM, Kingston Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Oksana Prokopchuk-Gauk: Transfusion Medicine Consultant, Saskatchewan Health Authority

Mélanie Dieudé: Director of Research Operations, Hema Quebec