The North American Thrombosis Forum Celebrates Thrombosis Awareness

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Mar 27, 2013, 02:53 ET

BOSTON, March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In conjunction with DVT Awareness Month, the North American Thrombosis Forum (NATF) will host its Signature Event tomorrow night, March 28, 2013 at the Mandarin Oriental in downtown Boston. At this event, NATF will recognize Melanie Bloom for her Decade of Dedication to raising awareness of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Ten years ago, Melanie Bloom embarked on a campaign to raise awareness of DVT, following the sudden death of her husband, NBC News correspondent, David Bloom, from complications of pulmonary embolism. Through her advocacy efforts, Melanie educates and improves the lives of at-risk individuals, and spares countless families the heartbreak of losing a loved one to preventable thrombosis.

Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot within a vein or artery causing partial or total obstruction of blood flow. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which occurs in the large veins of the legs, afflicts approximately 2 million American each year. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is an often fatal complication of DVT that occurs when a blood clot moves to the lungs.

Melanie encourages the continuation of thrombosis education with the momentum of this DVT Awareness campaign launched ten years ago.

"We're still at about the halfway mark, and that is a significant movement [from ten years ago]," Melanie stated in an interview with Dr. Samuel Z. Goldhaber, NATF President and Founding Board Member. "Continuing to get the word out, certainly some more media outreach, more hospital and community events are important, and I know NATF is making great strides, not just in late-breaking treatments and procedures, but also in raising that level of awareness. I think that it's important that groups like yours…keep that momentum going."

The event has already attracted many supporters, locally and nationally, including Honorary Committee Co-Chairs, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Angela Menino, former Red Sox Manager Terry Francona, State Representative Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Joseph P. Kennedy II and Beth Kennedy, and ABC News Anchor, Bob Woodruff, and his wife Lee Woodruff. Henry Hagopian III of Organogenesis, and Heather Ford, WZLX Radio Host, are Co-Chairs of the event.

NATF is proud to honor Melanie Bloom for her advocacy efforts and the phenomenal impact of her Decade of Dedication.

The North American Thrombosis Forum is a national 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to improving patient care, outcomes, and public health by utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach to advance thrombosis research and education. Together we are "Fighting Blood Clots and Saving Lives through Prevention and Education."