BBANYS Career Panel
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Considering a job in blood banking? Are you already working in the field and looking for some fresh insight?
Join us for a virtual Career Panel brought to you by the Blood Banks Association of New York State (BBANYS). We’ve organized a panel discussion featuring professionals from various technologist and management roles to give attendees a deeper understanding of the different career paths within the field.
Our goal is to provide you with exposure to real-world experiences, highlight the skills and opportunities in both technical and leadership positions, and inspire more people to pursue careers in this area. The panel of professionals we have assembled will share their career journeys, day-to-day responsibilities, and insights into how their roles contribute to the industry.
This event is FREE and open to all – members and non-members alike! Mark your calendar now to join us on April 1.
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Meet Our Panelists:
Denden Benabdessadek, MS, MT SBB(ASCP) is a laboratory services leader with more than 20 years of experience across blood centers, academic medical centers, and multi-site health systems. Beginning her career as a Blood Bank technologist, Denden has progressed through technical, consultative, and executive leadership roles, currently serving as Laboratory Manager of Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Biotherapies Lab Division at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Her career spans immunohematology, transfusion services, cellular therapy, quality and regulatory affairs, and enterprise laboratory management. As a board-certified Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB), Denden credits advanced certification and continuous professional development as key drivers in expanding career opportunities beyond the bench. Currently serving as Manager of Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Biotherapies at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, Denden is passionate about mentoring laboratory professionals and demonstrating the diverse career pathways available within the laboratory profession, from bench practice to leadership, innovation, and systems transformation. She is a proud mother of a Senior in High School who plans to major in Clinical Laboratory Sciences as she enters college in the fall.
Lola Famuyiwa MS, MT, SBB(ASCP)CM earned her Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences from SUNY Stony Brook in 2003. She has over 20 years of clinical experience in immunohematology and transfusion and has served as blood bank supervisor and manager in several hospitals in NYC
She holds a New York State license and is board certified as a Specialist in Blood Banking through the American Society of Clinical Pathology. She recently completed her Master of Science and MBA in Healthcare Leadership at Cornell University.
Ian D. Hatch, MS, MLS, is the Senior Director of Clinical Laboratories and Business Development at NYU Langone Health. With nearly 20 years of laboratory management experience in New York State, he has led complex, multi-campus programs across clinical and anatomic pathology, transfusion medicine, cellular therapy, and large hospital-based outreach operations.
Previously, Ian directed clinical laboratories at New York -Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and served as Director of Education and Research at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Ian was Chair of the Board of the New York State Clinical Laboratory Association from 2020-2023 and remains a member of ASCP and the American Society for Quality. Ian holds an MS in Biomedical Technology and Management and a BS in Microbiology and is proud to be a licensed Clinical Laboratory Technologist in New York State.
Julissa Lora began her healthcare career as a Care Coordinator in the Leukemia Department in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 2017. Her time working closely with patients that underwent continuous transfusions sparked the interest to return to school and learn more. In 2019 - 2020 She became a lab scholar with MSKCC which allowed her to return to school and obtain her licensure for Medical Laboratory Scientist. In the summer of 2020 Julissa office became a Blood Bank Technologist. Through dedication and education she made her way to lead tech at MSKCC, shortly following with becoming the BloodBank Supervisor at New York Presbyterian- Allen.
Méta S. Morrison-Roper, MBA, MT(SBB)ASCPcm, is Manager of Blood Bank Operations at NYU Langone Health Tisch Hospital in New York City, where she leads transfusion medicine services supporting complex patient care. With more than 20 years of experience in immunohematology, laboratory quality systems, and operational leadership, she is dedicated to advancing safe, high-reliability laboratory practices. Morrison-Roper previously served as a College of American Pathologists laboratory inspector and an AABB accreditation assessor, contributing to national quality and regulatory standards in transfusion medicine. She is also part-time faculty in Medical Laboratory Science at Marist College.
Jayanna Slayten is from Indianapolis, Indiana. She attended Georgetown College for her BS in Biology and the University of Kentucky Med Technology Program. Jay received her Master’s in Blood Transfusion Medicine/Specialist in Blood Bank (SBB) from the University of Cincinnati/Hoxworth Blood Center. Jay is currently on track to complete her doctorate in Health Professions Education from Allen College in 2028. Since July 2025, Jay has been a full-time remote assistant professor for the University of Texas Medical Branch Specialist in Blood Bank Program and the UTMB Clinical Laboratory Science Department. Jay teaches blood banking, management and education. Still active in the field, Jay works supplementally with the blood bank/transfusion service as a QA/Project MLS for Indiana University Health Blood Bank. Besides a love for red cell serology and teaching blood banking, Jay participates in SBB/CAAHEP and AABB committees, and serves as an AABB/CAP assessor.
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This Career Panel is co-hosted by the BBANYS Research & Education Committee (Dr. Victoria Costa) and Young Professionals Group (Dr. Bobbie Pelham-Webb).
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