NEWS RELEASE
Heather Browne ∙ Marketing & Media Manager
405-419-1330 ∙ Cell 405-623-9321
Email ∙ heather.browne@obi.org
Oklahoma Blood Institute Names Kim van Antwerpen Chief Operating Officer
October 16, 2019 – Oklahoma Blood Institute is proud to announce Kim van Antwerpen as its Chief Operating Officer, a new leadership position for the nation’s sixth largest non-profit blood collector.
Since 2004, Ms. van Antwerpen has served as Vice President of Technical Operations at Oklahoma Blood Institute. During her tenure, she has successfully managed a staff of more than 150 people, and delivered many critical projects including key implementations, upgrades, expansions, and remodeling projects.
“Kim’s leadership experience and expertise have been invaluable as our blood center grows to serve more patients and hospitals in communities throughout Oklahoma and the region,” said John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO of Oklahoma Blood Institute. “We would like to congratulate Kim on her new position as COO, and we know she will bring incredible proficiency as we continue to advance our operations.”
Ms. van Antwerpen has been instrumental in innovating new products, services, and programs– most recently, she was named the founding President of Testing Laboratory United, Inc., a nationwide joint blood center venture to perform blood donor screening. Additionally, she represents Oklahoma Blood Institute in numerous settings, such as ACTS (the Alliance of Community Transfusion Services), BCA (Blood Centers of America), and AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks).
Ms. van Antwerpen holds an MBA from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Master’s in Computer Information Systems from the University of Phoenix. She earned a BS in Clinical Laboratory Science from the University of Oklahoma. She is a certified Medical Technologist and serves as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Business/MBA Program. Prior to joining Oklahoma Blood Institute, she worked in biotechnology leadership roles for Genzyme, Inc. and Organon Teknika Corp.
Her new role will expand her current manufacturing, testing, inventory and distribution responsibilities to encompass Donor Recruitment, Donor Collections, Donor Center Operations, and Volunteer Services.
Oklahoma Blood Institute employs more than 950 people and provides every drop of blood needed for patients in 165 hospitals, medical facilities and air ambulances statewide, and also operates Arkansas Blood Institute, Texas Blood Institute, and Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo, Texas.
