Dr Bruce Spiess gave this well-researched and thought-provoking talk as the 2020 BMSS Aryeh Shander Lecture at the Annual Scientific Conference of the Bloodless Medicine & Surgery Society. He discussed the scientific basis of bloodless medicine and the need to apply its principles in routine medical practice.
Dr Spiess is a clinical Professor of Anesthesiology and the Associate Chair for Anesthesiology at the University of Florida, School of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida. Dr Spiess has focused his research upon blood: its critical oxygen carrying capacity, oxygen therapeutic pharmaceutical development (previously known as “blood substitutes”), risks of blood transfusion, and coagulation/coagulopathies and development of monitoring technologies. His extensive work in blood transfusion risks has led him to be an outspoken proponent of patient blood management.
He has authored over 200 peer reviewed academic articles, more than 40 book chapters, seven textbooks and appeared on the Discovery Channel and in many other lay media. His work has been funded mostly by the US Department of Defense and he has led major conferences for the DOD, NIH, FDA with regards to critical blood issues.
As it pertains to patient blood management Dr Spiess has spoken at the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management and the Bloodless Medicine & Surgery Society a number of times and on every continent (excect Antarctica- where blood management is not a great issue). He has worked with government agencies (Australia) to enhance the support for liberal thinking on blood management.
His present work at University of Florida has a major focus on trying to get that very large medical center to become a showplace for anemia correction, as well as a world center for bloodless medicine. Dr Spiess is particularly proud of his involvement with the special forces, the United States military and his efforts to help government agencies understand the issues of “When Blood is not an Option”.
