Bone Marrow Drive on Medical Campus
Every year, thousands of individuals are diagnosed with a life threatening blood disorder that requires a bone marrow transplant. Because a successful match depends on the compatibility of inherited markers, individuals are more likely to find a match in donors of the same ethnicity. However, due to the scarcity of minority donors in the bone marrow registry particularly Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, and mixed races, many in need are unable to find a match. UCI APAMSA has worked towards raising awareness of this issue within the community, seeking to increase the number of donors of all backgrounds in the registry. With the help of the National Marrow Donor Program and UCI LMSA, UCI APAMSA organized the first bone marrow drive on the UCI SOM campus, inspiring over 80 medical students to sign up for the registry. APAMSA members also educated community members in collaboration with UCLA APAMSA and A3M at a bone marrow drive held at the Martin Luther King Parade in Long Beach. Next year, we hope to expand our efforts even further throughout the UCI Campus by reaching out to undergraduates, graduate students, and nursing students, all while continuing our volunteer endeavors in the surrounding community.
