Impact of the plasma shortage and the Human-to-Human Connection: Ft Megan Ryan, Primary Immune Deficiency Disease Advocate
In this episode, we touch on the patient impact of the plasma shortage. Our goal is to raise awareness and educate on the importance of plasma donations. Our guest is Primary Immune Deficiency Disease Advocate, Megan Ryan.
Megan Ryan is a native Texan; lover of flowers, plants and gardening; always planning for an upcoming travel adventure -- and for almost 20 years lived with Common Variable Immune Deficiency, one of more than 300 identified primary immunodeficiency diseases.
Megan is treated with weekly infusions of immune globulin which is manufactured from human plasma.Without this weekly treatment she’d likely live with persistent and potentially fatal infections.
She’s taken her weekly treatments on the road to more than 20 countries and four continents so far. She’s helped educate patients and health care providers about primary immunodeficiency diseases and served as a peer-support coach and support group leader as well as a speaker at plasma donation centers.
Megan and her husband Jason live in Houston. After nearly 22 years working in a global professional services firm, she recently left this role to focus on personal goals and volunteer activities.
Connect with Megan:
Related publications
“My life depends on medicine made from plasma. The plasma shortage worries me.”
Publication date: November 8, 2019 Publication: STAT News
“The critical need for plasma donors”
Publication date: November 6, 2019 Publication: Houston Chronicle
Episode Media Citations:
- KPIX CBS SF Bay Area. “Plasma Shortage Keeps Bay Area Woman from Receiving Essential Treatment.” YouTube, 21 Jun. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC7kLidXhqs&t=61s
- FOX 17 WXMI. “8-Year-Old Michigan Boy Loses Plasma Treatment Due to Shortage.” YouTube, 18 Sep. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js7Qs4t24os
- WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore. “Plasma Donations Needed Amid Nationwide Shortage.” YouTube, 11 Jul. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5yLkR7U3fo