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When you first learn you’re pregnant, there is seemingly an avalanche of medical information about how to have a healthy pregnancy and how to raise healthy children.  To help you make some of the important decisions about pregnancy, birth planning, and cord blood banking, we’ve put together this collection of articles.

We focus on emerging trends in the delivery room, like the benefits of delayed cord clamping.  We explore the DNA insights available from your newborn’s cord blood, and preview medical research into the potential for stem cells to unlock cures for Autism, Cerebral Palsy, joint injuries, Alzheimer’s Disease, and much more.  We also highlight important information about cord blood banking and the potential medical benefits for your child, their siblings, and other family members.

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ATILLA KONDOROSI

Mr. Kondorosi has been involved with the hospitality and hotel industry for most of his life.  From 1969 through 1985, he held various positions at the international InterContinental Hotels chain, including various senior management roles.  After his transitioning to the USA, he moved into the real estate business and held a variety of positions.  Recently he has held te position of Director of Sales for Prestige Homes, Inc. part of Goldrich and Kest Industries headquartered in California since 1957.  Mr. Kondorosi represented the successful sale of 386 homes in the Bel Air Crest Development, including re-sales over the past several years, various high end listings and sales in prominent locations such as Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Bel Air, Beverly Hills and other parts of the west-side Los Angeles area.

Mr. Kondorosi is also the founder and President of EDKO Trade, Inc., and international real estate and trading company involved in promoting and closing transactions between various companies and individuals located around the world.  Since 2000, he has also been involved in various international and foreign innovative startup companies in various capacities including CEO, board member or in a consulting role.  Mr. Kondorosi received a Juri Doctor degree from Janus Pannonius University in Hungary in international law.  He also was a professor at the Budapest Business School / Faculty of Commerce, Catering and Tourism in Hungary.

In addition, Mr Kondorosi has served on the Board for the Regency Club from 2008 through 2011, a private business organization started by David Murdock 30 years ago in Los Angeles.

Deborah A. Sardone

Ms. Sardone has over 30 years of clinical laboratory experience as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist, including over 25 years with Central Florida Regional Hospital (CFRH). She was Supervisor of Quality Assurance, Safety and Education at CFRH for 11 years, held the positions of Blood Bank Supervisor for 11 years, and Hematology Supervisor for 1 year. She has participated in both sides of the inspection process, serving on the College of American Pathologists Inspection team for CAP Hospital Accreditation in Florida, and assisting in receiving accreditation by The Joint Commission (TJC), American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the inspections of the clinical laboratory.

Ms. Sardone is licensed by the State of Florida as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist in Immunohematology, Hematology, Serology and Clinical Chemistry. She is a certified Clinical Laboratory Technologist with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).

Ms. Sardone serves as Manager of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs at Cord For Life®, Inc. overseeing all licensing and regulatory agencies to ensure that the highest quality in all aspects of cord blood collection, processing, and storage is maintained.

Ms. Sardone’s skills and knowledge in blood banking and quality assurance have enabled her to establish, implement and maintain a superior quality system that meets and exceeds all standards and regulatory requirements for Cord For Life®, Inc.

Personal Background:

  • Sardone is a graduate of The City University of New York in Medical Laboratory Technology.
  • Sardone is licensed in Florida as a Clinical Medical Technologist and she is nationally recognized as ASCP Certified.
  • Sardone enjoys photography and dancing.

Donald Hudspeth

Mr. Hudspeth has over 17 years of clinical laboratory experience as a certified Medical Technologist (ASCP), including ten years with the University of North Carolina Hospitals. Mr. Hudspeth is licensed by the State of Florida as a Clinical Laboratory Supervisor in Immunohematology, Hematology, Serology, Clinical Chemistry, Molecular Pathology and Microbiology as well as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, is a registered Technologist with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and a member of the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT).

He has also enjoyed teaching Immunology to Clinical Laboratory Science and medical school students at UNC while working in the UNCH clinical labs. At Cord For Life®, Mr. Hudspeth serves as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all operations and the daily laboratory operations to ensure that the highest quality in all aspects of donor selection and cord blood collection, processing, and storage is maintained. He also works with Quality Assurance to ensure full compliance by Cord For Life® to all applicable regulations. Mr. Hudspeth has sat on numerous cord blood focused committees and advisory groups.

Additionally, Mr. Hudspeth served as the Clinical Investigator for Cord For Life® as they evaluated and approved a new processing methodology to isolate stem cells from cord blood while depleting the unwanted red cells. Mr. Hudspeth works with groups, individuals, or government agencies to bring cord blood banking to countries around the world. He is responsible for training medical professionals worldwide in cord blood processing at our Florida location. In addition, he travels overseas to assist in the initial setup and implementation of the new facilities to ensure their compliance and quality. Mr. Hudspeth has assisted in opening new cord blood facilities in Europe and in SE Asia.

Personal Background:

  • Mr. Hudspeth received his Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  • “Eagle Scout with Five Palms”
  • Avid golfer with a 14 handicap.

Donald R. Drake III, Ph.D

Don joined Sanofi Pasteur VaxDesign in 2005 and has served as Director of Immunological Research since 2009. He has had a long-standing interest in the immune system, particularly the interaction between viruses and elements of the adaptive immune system, since initiating his graduate studies at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

As a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Virginia, he was awarded funding from the Cancer Research Institute and received an Interdisciplinary Training Grant in Immunology from the National Institutes of Health to study CD8+ T cell immunity against influenza virus.

At VaxDesign, Don leads a team developing and optimizing the MIMIC® System to permit the evaluation of human adaptive immunity (cellular and humoral responses) against vaccine candidates, biologics, and other immunomodulators in a pre-clinical setting. He is an author on a variety of patents and peer-reviewed journal publications.

Kelli Cable

Mrs. Cable brings over 20 years of experience to Cord For Life® directing the Client Services, Account Management and Personnel departments. She began working in the cord blood industry in December of 2006. In addition, Ms. Cable is actively involved in marketing for the company.

Personal Background:

  • Mrs. Cable is married and has two boys.
  • In 1994, Ms. Cable moved to Orlando from Boulder, Colorado.
  • Has a passion for travel and enjoys watching NFL games, cheering on her favorite team, the Denver Broncos.

Richard R. Gammon, M.D.

Dr. Richard R. Gammon joined Florida’s Blood Centers (FBC) in 2005 and is responsible for ensuring that the organization’s medical practices, policies and testing remain at the forefront of the blood-banking industry. He received his undergraduate degree from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania and medical degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia.

He completed his residency at The Ohio State University and his fellowship at the University of Virginia. He also serves as an assistant professor of pathology at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. He has served as President and Technical Committee Chair of the Florida Association of Blood Banks. He currently serves as the Chair of the Scientific Medical and Technical Committee and Chair of the Journal Club for America’s Blood Centers.

He is an assessor and abstract reviewer for AABB and is a manuscript reviewer for the journal Transfusion. He is the co-recipient of a 2011 ABC Foundation Grant for the Get Healthy Wellness Program. Dr. Gammon’s research has been published in various peer-reviewed journals and he has been a featured speaker at numerous national and international conferences on blood banking and transfusion medicine.

Robert Parkhill, Ph.D

Dr. Parkhill directs operations at the Sanofi Pasteur VaxDesign Campus, which designs, develops, and manufactures in vitro models of the human immune system. Their mission is to prevent infectious disease by forecasting vaccine responses before clinical trials, and create a competitive advantage by providing predictive in vitro immunological models and assays. Dr. Parkhill holds a PhD in Material Science and Inorganic Chemistry for Oklahoma State University.

Robert W. Pollack, M.D., R. PH.

Dr. Pollock was originally from Ohio where he majored in pharmacy at Ohio Northern University. After graduation he worked as a pharmacist and attended The Ohio State University where he majored in chemistry and graduated in biochemistry.

In 1992 he attended Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton Ohio, after graduating from medical school he completed his residency at Orlando Regional Medical Center in anatomic and clinical pathology, then a two year fellowship in clinical molecular genetics at All Children’s Hospital in St Petersburg Florida. After completing his fellowship in genetics, he became Medical Director for Central Florida Blood Bank for 3 years where he took great interest in the stem cell donation program.

After leaving the blood bank, Dr Pollock became Assistant Director in Molecular Genetics for the Centers of Advanced Diagnostics which at the time was a division of Ameripath. After the restructuring of the Orlando operation, Dr Pollock found himself back in blood banking. He was medical director for BloodNetUSA in Lakeland, Florida prior to its merger with Florida Blood Services.

Sara Irrgang, M.D

During the last two years of Medical School, Dr. Irrgang was in the United States Navy 1915 Ensign Program and completed a clerkship at the Naval Hospital at Charleston, South Carolina as well as a research clerkship at the Naval Aerospace Institute at Pensacola, Florida.

Dr. Irrgang completed her four year Pathology residency at Baylor University Medical Center, and her internship at the University District Hospital, Rio Piedras in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Currently, Dr. Irrgang is Board Certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and licensed in the states of South Carolina, Texas, New Jersey and Florida and she is an Associate Medical Examiner at the District Nine Medical Examiners Office.

Dr. Irrgang is a fellow at numerous organizations including; The College of American Pathologists, National Association of Medical Examiners, Florida Association of Medical Examiners, Seminole County Medical Society, and the Florida Medical Society.

Personal Background:

  • Dr. Irrgang received a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of South Carolina.
  • Attended the Medical College of South Carolina at Charleston where she earned a Medical Doctorate Degree.
  • Dr. Irrgang has a passion for breeding show horses
  • Dr. Irrgang is a 4-H leader in Lake County, Florida

Tisha M. Foster, M.D

Dr. Tisha M. Foster joined Florida’s Blood Centers (FBC) in 2008 and is responsible for therapeutic apheresis, cellular therapies, and FBC’s participation in the National Marrow Donor Program. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma. She completed her residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and her fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin/Blood Center of Wisconsin. Prior to joining FBC, Dr. Foster served as medical director at BloodNetUSA in Lakeland (Fla.), where her responsibilities included supervision of the Transfusion Service Laboratory at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, donor eligibility, therapeutic apheresis, and ensuring regulatory compliance throughout the blood center.