Archives for September 2010

What’s On Your Bucket List? - 2010 09 02

by Angela Woon, Communications Specialist, red velvet cake enthusiast, salsa dancer, hero

Ever watched the movie, “The Bucket List?” It’s about two unlikely characters whose paths cross in a hospital and the only common bond they share is their terminal illness. Sparking up a friendship, they decide to do all the things they’ve ever wanted to do before they die.

While that movie wasn’t one of my favorites, I loved what it stood for, and felt inspired to whip up my own bucket list albeit a tamer version.

I’ve never been athletically-inclined (read: last one picked for sports teams in school) and hardly a daredevil, so being the next Roz Savage, attempting a bungee jump or climbing Mt. Everest isn’t exactly high on the priority list.

The Japanese have a proverb that says, “We’re fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.” I took that literally to heart and enrolled in a salsa dance class. I stepped on more than a few toes, made a fool of myself, and while I might still be the last girl to get picked to dance at a salsa club, at least I can now proudly check it off my list.

#68 - Try Red Velvet Cake. Been there done that, and about 100 times over and still counting.

I’ve tried that Senegalese restaurant that received good reviews, tasted salty licorice and loved it, tasted durian and hated it, backpacked, hiked, traveled several countries, walked across the Golden Gate bridge, dipped my feet in the Pacific Ocean, ate watermelon on top of Half Dome, seen Okapi, oh and course, #34 - made a noise no one has ever done before...at Grand Canyon National Park.

A few more things on my list: save lives, make someone smile, do something good. Those were easy a piece of cake! And all accomplished in about an hour! No, I didn’t rush into a burning house to save lives or climb up a tree to save a stranded cat (please read third paragraph about not being athletically-inclined). I donated blood. And guess what? With a pint of blood, I saved not one, not two but three lives! And likely made some people smile. A triple whammy on my bucket list with one simple action!

Some foods may not be for your tastebuds, some activities not to your physical abilities or liking, but hey, saving lives through blood donation can be on everyone’s (if you meet the general requirements) bucket list…and regularly repeated ! Carpe diem - save as many lives as you can!

Next on my to-do-list: travel to India, hike Machu Picchu, read Don Quixote, nosh at more restaurants, eat more red velvet cake AND save even more lives through blood donation.

What’s on your bucket list?

(image credit)

Archives for August

Spotlight’s On: Dena Terashima - 2010 08 26

BCP has many departments and hundreds of employees. Do you know the function of each department? Or the role of many of our staff members? Each month, we’ll spotlight a staff member or department. Last month we interviewed BCP’s Special Donations Representative, Tim Somera. This month, we’d like to introduce you to Dena Terashima! 

What’s your job title? And what do you do?
I am the Hospital Services Supervisor and I guarantee a high level of internal/external customer service is practiced in the department. My job also includes training, scheduling, counseling and performance evaluations for dispensers and drivers. In addition, I monitor blood component inventory and manage outdates, as well as inspect and communicate with hospitals to ensure all service-related issues are addressed and remedied.

Describe your typical day at work.
I start the day at the desk taking and filling morning blood component needs. This gives me great insight into what our hospitals need and I take this to the morning meeting. There is a lot of paperwork to review, training to facilitate and projects to keep me busy and out of trouble.

What do you like best/most about your job?
The wonderful people I work with, of course. There is a variety of experience, strengths, and challenges that makes us such a well-balanced team.

What are the challenges? How do you overcome them?
The hardest thing for me is trying to keep on top of everything that comes my way on a daily basis. Organization and flexibility is the key to the madness. I have a great support system and everyone is very patient with me, so I feel confident that I will establish a better working system with time.

How long have you worked at BCP?
I started in the Components Lab in 2007, moved to Technical Operations - Quality Control at the end of 2007 and then transferred to Hospital Services in 2009.

Thanks you Dena for all of your hard work to make sure the hospitals we serve have the blood they need to keep saving lives! We’re so glad to have you!