Elizabeth “Betsy” O’Connor Blunk was a beloved friend and leader. She was a proud mom to Will and Mallory and a respected colleague to many in the hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) community. She worked as a nurse for more than 25 years in many roles across the HCT continuum of care including as a Nurse Coordinator, Donor Coordinator, CIBMTR Data Manager, and in a leadership role across the Sarah Cannon Transplant & Cellular Therapy Network. Throughout her career, she made an extraordinary and lasting impact to the Sarah Cannon transplant and cellular therapy programs, our colleagues, and, most importantly, the patients and families we serve.

Betsy partnered with the NMDP in her many roles to help identify donors for patients who needed a donor transplant, to educate nurse coordinators, to support research aimed at improving patient outcomes, and to organize numerous donor registration drives.

But Betsy's contributions extended well beyond her professional responsibilities. She had a genuine heart for serving others and was deeply involved in Sarah Cannon’s Caring for the Community program. Each year, she led the Christmas giving campaign for transplant patients and families who were in need during the holiday season. That generosity and compassion were simply part of who Betsy was.

For many of us, Betsy was much more than a colleague. She was a trusted partner, a familiar and reassuring presence, and a friend.

Betsy leaves behind a remarkable legacy—not only through the programs and services she helped build, but through the countless colleagues, patients, and families whose lives she touched along the way. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

We think that Betsy would have enthusiastically championed this NMDP Patient Assistance memorial fund to support the patients she dedicated most of her career to helping.