A Maryland doctor with the American Red Cross died suddenly Jan. 4, one week after giving birth to a pair of healthy boys.
Dr. Lisa G. McLaughlin
Dr. Lisa G. McLaughlin, an executive medical officer and National Diversity Advisory Council appointee for the American Red Cross, died Jan. 4 after collapsing at her Montgomery Village, Md. home while recovering from the delivery.
“We are terribly shocked and saddened at the sudden loss of such a dear friend and valued Red Cross colleague,” Dr. Richard Benjamin, chief medical officer for the American Red Cross’ Biomedical Services division said in a statement. “Lisa was always a pleasure to work with, bringing a joyous and exuberant personality to everything she did. Her laughter echoed through the office hallways and coworkers admired her glamorous style and elegance. She will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time.”
McLaughlin filled various roles with the Red Cross since 2007, beginning as the medical director in the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region before serving as the senior medical officer. Most recently, she led the expansion of the Red Cross Clinical Services program worldwide, an effort to drive recruitment of diverse blood donor populations to better serve sickle cell disease patients. In 2009, she completed the Greater Baltimore Committee’s Leadership program as a member of the 2009 class and continued to actively participate in class activities.
Before working at the Red Cross, Dr. McLaughlin was an attorney and Special Assistant Attorney General in the Nebraska Department of Social Services, where she promoted the cause of neglected and abused children.
McLaughlin earned her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. She then earned her M.D. and completed her residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. McLaughlin completed a fellowship at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, with a focus on transfusion medicine.
McLaughlin is survived by her husband, Mike, and her two sons, Dylan and Jordan. A Remembrance Celebration will be held at the American Red Cross Board of Governors Hall, 430 17th Street, Washington, D.C. at 3 p.m. on Jan. 15. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help support McLaughlin’s boys. To RSVP for the Remembrance Celebration, and for details on donations, please contact Linh Chamaj at linh.chamaj@redcross.org