Inside ARISE: A Community-Driven Blood Donor Program
March 20, 2026
ARISE in Queen Creek, Arizona, has established a blood donor program led by Amber Eggers, CVT, VTS (ECC), alongside Jenna Leicester, CVT, with medical oversight from Dr. Edward Baker. From the outset, the program was designed with a clear focus on donor welfare, clinical rigor, and operational consistency.
What stands out about ARISE is not simply the presence of a blood donor program, but the reliability it has achieved. Their blood bank now supports both their hospital and their sister hospital in Peoria, Arizona, reducing reliance on third-party blood suppliers and helping ensure timely access to lifesaving blood products across both locations.
ARISE has also expanded its impact through partnerships beyond veterinary medicine, collaborating with a local human blood bank to host joint donation drives. These events help raise community awareness around blood donation while highlighting the shared commitment to patient care across human and veterinary healthcare.
Amber and Jenna play key roles in the success of the program and have been intentional about planning for long-term sustainability. To support continued growth and operational focus, ARISE recently welcomed a full-time blood bank nurse, Ashley Choate, CVT, who now oversees day-to-day operations and ongoing program development.
A snapshot of the ARISE program, in their own words:
Active donors: 63 total donors
Units collected: 318 canine donations and 170 feline donations since the program’s launch
A milestone moment: ARISE has hosted two dual human and animal blood drives and participated in a live filming of a feline blood collection for Fox 10 News. Their next joint drive with Vitalant is scheduled for April 25, 2026.
What they want others to know:
“Every donor is special to us, and we have each donor’s picture on our wall of fame in our donor room where families get to see them each time they come in to donate. Every time a bag of blood gets used, we send a message to the donor family showing our gratitude for their support and celebrating their little superhero’s lifesaving work. Each message ends with our hospital saying #BloodDonorsSaveLives.”
A defining element of the ARISE program is its approach to donor recognition. From their donor “wall of fame” to direct communication with families when a unit is used, the team prioritizes transparency, gratitude, and connection. This approach has helped foster strong relationships with donor families and support the program’s continued success.
The ARISE blood donor program highlights the impact that intentional program design and community involvement can have on expanding access to lifesaving veterinary care.