Inside VSH San Diego’s Blood Donor Program: Advancing Care Where It’s Needed Most
April 14, 2026
At Veterinary Specialty Hospital (VSH) San Diego, lifesaving care depends on more than advanced medicine; it depends on access.
In one of the most tightly regulated environments in the country, the team at VSH San Diego has built a blood donor program designed to meet both clinical demand and complex state requirements. Led by Christina Lee, LVT, VTS (ECC), and Jenny Schifko, LVT, with medical oversight from Dr. Saya Press, the program reflects a deep commitment to both patients and the donors who make this work possible.
In California, veterinary hospitals face unique challenges when it comes to sourcing blood products. Strict regulations limit availability and certain products, like platelets, cannot be shipped across state lines. For the VSH San Diego team, that means stepping in to produce critical blood components in-house.
Meeting a Critical Need
To ensure patients have access to the products they need, the team produces specialty blood components, including platelet-rich concentrate and cryoprecipitate, directly within the hospital. It’s a level of capability that requires precision, technical expertise, and thoughtful coordination.
It also requires a steady, committed donor base.
Today, the program supports 64 active donors each playing a vital role in making advanced care possible. With platelets carrying a shelf life of just five days, maintaining supply is an ongoing effort that depends on planning, communication, and a community willing to show up when it matters most.
Built on Safety, Sustained by Purpose
Every part of the program is designed with safety at its core. From donor screening and handling to product processing and storage, the team has built a system that prioritizes both compliance and compassion.
Balancing regulatory oversight with the pace of a busy specialty hospital isn’t simple but it’s something this team has embraced. Alongside daily clinical demands, they’ve also implemented blood utilization training for hospital teams, supporting thoughtful transfusion decisions and responsible inventory management to reduce waste while maintaining the highest standards of care.
Their work extends beyond the hospital walls as well. By partnering with local human blood banks for joint donation drives, the team helps raise awareness about the importance of donation while strengthening connections between human and veterinary medicine in the San Diego community.
A Snapshot of the VSH Program, in Their Own Words
- Active donors: 64 total donors, including 47 dogs and 17 cats, among them, two rare Type AB cats
- Specialty products produced: Platelet-rich concentrate, cryoprecipitate, and additional blood products produced in-house
- Why this matters in California: There are currently no commercial vendors supplying veterinary platelets within the state, and blood products cannot be shipped across state lines. Meaning every platelet unit must be generated locally through volunteer donors
- Behind the scenes: Platelets have a shelf life of just five days, requiring careful coordination, advance planning, and donors who are ready when patients need them most
- Education and stewardship: A blood utilization training program supports clinical teams in making thoughtful transfusion decisions and managing inventory responsibly to reduce waste while maintaining excellent patient care
A Visible Impact
Inside the hospital, the impact of this work is captured in a simple but powerful way.
A “Hero Blood Bag” fills over time with botanical paper cutouts of either a dog or cat that represents a donor and hearts symbolizing the lives saved through those donations. It’s a growing, visual reminder of the connection between donors, patients, and the team behind the program.
And the impact is measurable, too.
In 2025 alone, the VSH San Diego team produced more than 91,000 mL of blood products in-house, including critical platelet units that are otherwise unavailable within the state. In an environment where access is limited, that level of output directly translates to lives saved.
Why It Matters
Programs like this don’t happen by accident. They are built by teams who are willing to take on complexity, think differently, and stay focused on what matters most; delivering the care their patients need, no matter the challenge.
At VSH San Diego, that commitment shows up every day in the donors who return, the teams who coordinate each collection, and the patients who receive care when timing is everything.
Because when access is limited, innovation, collaboration, and dedication make all the difference.