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Our Staff & Board of Directors

 

 

Melissa Compton, Executive Director

Melissa has been involved with the Lone Star Bleeding Disorders Foundation since learning her son has hemophilia in 2003. She began volunteering, and has served as Hemophilia Walk Manager and Program Coordinator before becoming Executive Director. Melissa graduated from Texas A&M University, where she met her husband Brian. She and Brian have two children, son Kyle, and daughter Sarah. She is thrilled to be serving the bleeding disorders community of Texas.

 

 

Heidi Hensley, Director of Community Relations

Heidi has worked for the Lone Star Bleeding Disorders Foundation since 2008. She is privileged to serve such an amazing community! It is important to her to raise awareness for the bleeding disorders community as well as help provide families with education, support and advocacy. Heidi graduated from Texas A&M University. She is married to her high school sweetheart and they have four children. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and playing tennis.

Kelley O’Hara, Outreach and Education Coordinator

Kelley has been involved with the Lone Star Bleeding Disorders Foundation since her son’s hemophilia diagnosis in 2000. She became involved with the First Step program helping newly diagnosed families and served on the board as a trustee. Kelley graduated from Texas A&M University with a psychology degree then became a nurse as a second career. She is married to Ryan and they have a blended family of five children. She is excited to be back involved with the bleeding disorder community.

Tara Kosh, Development Manager

We are excited to welcome Tara Kosh to our staff as Development Manager! More to come on Tara soon!

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors for the Lone Star Bleeding Disorders Foundation is the governing body. The Board, along with its advisors, meets bi-monthly to discuss governing and programmatic issues for the organization.

  • Amanda Wolgamott, President
  • Allison Pohl, 1st Vice President
  • Dan Bond, 2nd Vice President
  • Aaron Gonzalez, Treasurer
  • Heather Pohl, Secretary
  • Gail Boggs, Trustee
  • Celia Patino, Trustee
  • Juan Guzman, Trustee
  • James Setliff, Trustee
  • Laura Portales, Trustee
  • Donna Oldfield, PT, Gulf States HTC, Treatment Center Advisor
  • Trinh Nguyen Texas Children’s Comprehensive HTC, Treatment Center Advisor
  • Madi Boggs, Teen Advisor

News from HFA

  • Word from Washington: August 2023

    Advocates are responding to yet another payer-side, cost-saving scheme that harms patient access to medicine. The latest version, the so-called “alternative funding program” (AFP), is a shady strategy pitched to employers that promises to lower health plan spending on specialty drugs such as bleeding disorder products and other expensive medicines. AFP vendors advise employer health The post Word from Washington: August 2023 appeared first on Hemophilia Federation of America.

  • UPDATE: Takeda to Voluntarily Replace Certain BAXJECT® II Reconstitution Devices

    UPDATE as of 8/28/2023 Takeda, in agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has decided to voluntarily replace BAXJECT® II reconstitution devices produced by Baxter between October 2021 and January 2022 co-packaged for use in conjunction with RECOMBINATE™ [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant)] and RIXUBIS® [Coagulation [Factor IX (Recombinant)]. Takeda has received reports of white The post UPDATE: Takeda to Voluntarily Replace Certain BAXJECT® II Reconstitution Devices appeared first on Hemophilia Federation of America.

  • Dear Addy: In-District Legislative Meetings

    Dear Addy, With Congress in recess, how can I continue to participate in legislative advocacy? Signed, Bleeding Disorders Advocate Dear Bleeding Disorders Advocate, Every August, the United States Congress embarks on a recess, temporarily adjourning its legislative business and allowing members to return to their home states and districts. The August recess tradition serves as The post Dear Addy: In-District Legislative Meetings appeared first on Hemophilia Federation of America.

  • Word from Washington: July 2023

    July saw mounting coverage losses from the national Medicaid unwinding. As of July 28, nearly four million people have been disenrolled from Medicaid since redeterminations began in April 2023. Three-quarters of that total lost coverage for procedural reasons, i.e., paperwork, and may still be eligible for Medicaid. In response to this dismaying track record:  Also The post Word from Washington: July 2023 appeared first on Hemophilia Federation of America.

  • Dear Addy: Finding Community

    Dear Addy, I am the only person I know who has a bleeding disorder. I don’t know any other patients at my HTC, and I live pretty far away from my nearest member organization, so I don’t usually get the chance to attend community events. I want to connect with others in the community, but The post Dear Addy: Finding Community appeared first on Hemophilia Federation of America.