Combining Forces to Save Lives: Dozens from MCPHS Join Stem Cell Donor Registry

“My clinical background is in stem cell transplantation, so this is near and dear to my heart,” said Laura Petrillo-Deluca, MPAS, PA-C, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies. “I would go through the frustration with patients when we couldn’t find matches for them, so it was nice to see all the people who registered because I know how much it will impact patients.”

Petrillo-Deluca started the relationship between Be The Match and MCPHS in 2017. She and the SAAAPA organized two tabling events in Worcester before the pandemic. In 2021, when they brought the event back, they drew the attention of one of her colleagues in the School of Occupational Therapy.

“I remember seeing the table and thinking how meaningful it was,” said Michelle Dowling, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CLVT, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy. “Then, my son, who had joined the registry when he was in college, was called upon and became a donor for someone. I wanted to see if we could combine forces and propel us to something bigger.”

And they did. Dr. Dowling, Tautkus, and SOTA teamed up with Petrillo-Deluca, Tepper, and SAAPA to throw an event that drew so much interest, that there was standing-room-only space inside the Lincoln Ballroom. The presentation from Dr. Dowling’s son about his experience as a donor put the event over the top.

“My son helped demystify the donor experience, showing how his fortitude could help save a person’s life,” she said. “His story helped students not be afraid to swab.” Petrillo-Deluca’s experience also helped attendees better understand what they were signing up for.

“Ninety percent of the time, stem cell transplantation is done through the blood,” she explained. “That means the donor receives injections to mobilize their stem cells from their bone marrow into the bloodstream. Then, they donate their blood, and we collect the cells.”

With 73 new registrations collected in one day, this was the biggest Be The Match event ever held at MCPHS.

“That’s potentially 73 lives changed,” Tautkus said. “That’s a big deal.”

“We didn’t expect it to be as big as it was,” Tepper said. “It shows how the young people in medicine want to help our patients.”

The group has big plans for future Be The Match events, expanding to include other fields and campuses.

“This event took off, and we’d love to see it grow,” Petrillo-Deluca said. “In the future, having a patient who’s received a transplant share their story would be really powerful.”

“It was the most inspiring opportunity thus far in my career,” Dr. Dowling said. “It has energized me to do even more.”