Profile in Leadership: Trish Dominic, CEO
July 2008, Submitted to Atlanta Hospital News
Patricia A. Dominic, Chief Executive Officer, Hemophilia of Georgia
This year, as Hemophilia of Georgia celebrates its 35th anniversary, CEO Trish Dominic looks back on her 24 years as Executive Director and later as CEO. Under Trish's direction, the organization has grown from a small chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation to an independent multi-service agency with a staff of 40 including outreach nurses and social workers and a non-profit pharmacy. Today, HoG serves more than 1300 Georgians who have inherited bleeding disorders such as hemophilia and von Willebrand Disease. Agency programs and services include a summer camp for children and teens, educational opportunities for clients and family members, and a variety of support services.
While serving people who have inherited bleeding disorders is HoG's top priority, Trish also ensures funds are dedicated to research that will one day find a cure for bleeding disorders. The annual Hit 'Em for Hemophilia golf tournament has raised more than $10 million for bleeding disorder research over the past 25 years. In addition, Trish was instrumental in launching a funding program for physician researchers to conduct translational research on hemophilia and its complications.
Advocacy and volunteer recruitment are also important parts of Trish's work at Hemophilia of Georgia. The agency has been chosen by the state of Georgia every year since 1973 to administer a grant to provide clotting factor to medically indigent residents. Hemophilia of Georgia also advocates with the members of Georgia's congressional delegation to pass legislation beneficial to the community. In addition to the dedicated volunteers who assist in client events and fundraising, Trish works closely with the volunteer board of directors who guide the agency's work.
Trish is also active in the national hemophilia community. In 1998 she worked with hemophilia pharmacies across the U.S. to establish the Hemophilia Alliance to represent their interests with federal government agencies, pharmaceutical companies and Congress. She went on to serve as President of the Hemophilia Alliance from 2001 to 2005 and has served on the association's Board of Directors since 2005. Trish and HoG were instrumental in the formation of the American Thrombosis & Hemostatis Network (ATHN), a national organization to collect and house data for research and health outcomes.