Each year, NBDF honors the incredible individuals who make a difference in the bleeding disorders community. From the advocates who tirelessly push for better access to care, to the providers who go above and beyond for their patients, to the volunteers who ensure that nobody with a bleeding disorder feels alone, NBDF’s Awards of Excellence honor the amazing people and chapters who contribute so much to the betterment of people with bleeding disorders. Our community is stronger because of the work they do. Please join us in celebrating the 2026 recipients of NBDF Awards of Excellence.
Physician of the Year
Honoring physicians whose dedication transforms patient care.
Dr. Nathan Connell, MD, MPH, FACP
Dr. Nathan Connell is chief of medicine at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital and associate director of the Boston Hemophilia Center, as well as an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He co-chaired the 2021 Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of von Willebrand Disease, translating global research into practical patient care recommendations. His clinical and research leadership has strengthened systems of care for underserved populations worldwide.
Nurse of the Year
Recognizing nurses whose care and expertise enhance patient lives.
Charmaine Biega, RN, BSN
For more than 40 years, Charmaine Biega has cared for patients and families in the bleeding disorders community at Nationwide Children's Hospital, coordinating comprehensive care and education. She has served on the FAMOHIO Board, the Ohio Bleeding Disorders Council, and the Regional Working Group, and has personally taught hundreds of children to self-infuse. She is tireless advocate, mentor, and an unofficial family member to countless patients.
Physical Therapist of the Year
Recognizing therapists who foster strength and independence.
Bruno Steiner, PT, DPT, LMT, RMSK
Bruno Steiner is a mentor, teacher, and researcher recognized for championing point-of-care musculoskeletal ultrasound use in hemophilia treatment centers. As president of the American Physical Therapy Association's Imaging Special Interest Group, he has pushed for accessible, high-quality diagnostics, while also spending decades in hands-on practice with patients who struggled to find relief elsewhere. His research and mentorship have influenced clinicians both in the U.S. and internationally.
Social Worker of the Year
Honoring social workers whose dedication supports families and communities.
Anita Graham, MSW, ACSW
For more than twenty years, Anita Graham has served as program coordinator and social worker in pediatric hematology/oncology at the West Virginia University Hemophilia Treatment Center. She has directed Camp Winaca HemoVon, a five-day residential camp for children with cancer or bleeding disorders, for nearly two decades, and even established an endowment to secure its future. Her work has provided crucial connection and support for West Virginia's bleeding disorders community.
Genetic Counselor of the Year
Honoring counselors who guide families with care and expertise.
Kristin Paulyson Nuñez, MS, C.G.C
For 26 years, Kristin Paulyson Nuñez has worked to improve information and outcomes for females with blood and bleeding disorders. She has contributed to NBDF's State of the Science working groups and the National Research Blueprint and serves as a medical advisor to the Foundation for Women and Girls with Bleeding Disorders. She was also the driving force behind establishing a genetic counselor working group within NBDF's MASAC.
Chapter Volunteer of the Year
Honoring volunteers whose commitment strengthens chapters and families.
Lisa Nick
Lisa Nick has spent years supporting West Virginia families navigating a new bleeding disorder diagnosis, offering guidance and care tips from personal experience. She and her husband created the Spokes Men for Bleeding fundraising event, which now raises $15,000–$20,000 annually for the West Virginia chapter. Her sustained advocacy and fundraising leadership make her an invaluable presence in her community.
Loras Goedken Outstanding Leadership Award
Celebrating chapter leaders whose vision creates meaningful impact.
Dale Gibbs
For more than 37 years, Dale Gibbs has advocated for the Nebraska bleeding disorders community as the parent of a person with hemophilia. He built lasting relationships with state legislators, helped advance Nebraska's Copay Accumulator Adjustor Ban, and trained EMS departments on emergency care for bleeding disorders. His leadership and mentorship have strengthened both chapter and statewide services.
Advocate of the Year
Recognizing people who ensure the community is heard and supported.
Michael Tuberdyck (posthumous)
Diagnosed with hepatitis C from tainted blood products in the 1990s, Michael Tuberdyck spent more than 30 years as a fierce advocate for the bleeding disorders community. He served on the Northeast Region HRSA Committee, helped found the Western New York BloodCare Foundation's support group, and led advocacy meetings that helped secure a congressman's support for the Federal Accumulator Bill.
Lived Experience Expert of the Year
Honoring individuals who turn personal experience into progress for all.
Paxton Mills
Paxton Mills first became involved with NBDF as an NYLI member, combining her interest in hematology with a drive to improve the lives of people with bleeding disorders. She has spoken at NBDF's Bleeding Disorders Conference and the World Federation of Hemophilia, received the Susan Skinner Memorial Scholarship, and co-authored research on the diagnostic gap for women and girls with bleeding disorders — all before graduating college. She continues to advocate for NBDF's Community Voices in Research registry and for underserved populations in the community.
Mary M. Gooley Humanitarian of the Year
Acknowledging champions whose compassion improves lives every day.
Bruce Evatt, MD
As a researcher and later director at the CDC, Dr. Bruce Evatt was among the first to help identify HIV as a bloodborne virus during the crisis that struck the hemophilia community in the 1980s. His team developed blood donation screening methods and demonstrated that heat-treating plasma-derived factor concentrates could inactivate HIV, leading to safer treatment products. He also co-authored a landmark 2007 study showing that regular factor infusions could prevent joint damage in young boys with hemophilia, helping shift care toward prophylactic treatment.
Dr. Murray Thelin Researcher of the Year
Celebrating researchers whose work brings new treatments and hope.
Lynn Malec, MD, MSC (posthumous)
Lynn Malec was a leading adult and pediatric hematologist and senior medical director of the Versiti Comprehensive Center for Bleeding Disorders, known for translating research into meaningful improvements in patient care. She developed and launched the Versiti gene therapy program and co-authored publications in leading journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine and Blood. She also made lasting contributions to NBDF’s National Research Blueprint before her sudden passing this year.
Philanthropist of the Year
Celebrating generosity that advances our mission and community.
Alex Borstein
Alex Borstein, an Emmy-winning actress and comedian, is a lived experience expert with mild hemophilia and a longtime supporter of NBDF. Over ten consecutive years of giving, she has contributed more than $350,000, including a $100,000 gift at the 2019 Red Tie Soiree, and has used her public platform — including an appearance on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune — to raise awareness and funds for the bleeding disorders community. She has also committed to a legacy gift to NBDF through her estate planning.
Ryan White Youth Award
Honoring young leaders whose advocacy inspires change.
Isabelle Capsel
Isabelle Capsel is a young woman with hemophilia who regularly speaks at events for the Great Ohio Bleeding Disorders Foundation, sharing her lived experience to educate patients, families, and providers. She mentors kids at her chapter's teen adventure camp and advocates at Ohio Statehouse Days and NBDF's Washington Days, and was featured in the documentary Dismissed, which highlighted issues facing women and girls with bleeding disorders.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognizing individuals whose lifelong dedication has shaped our community.
Mark Skinner, JD
For more than three decades, Mark Skinner has been a leading advocate, scholar, and statesman in the bleeding disorders community, shaping systems of care and policy around the world. He served as president of both the National Hemophilia Foundation (now NBDF) and the World Federation of Hemophilia, expanding global access to treatment during his tenure at each. In honor of his mother, he and his family created the Susan Skinner Memorial Fund scholarship to foster leadership among women in the global bleeding disorders community. Read more about Mark Skinner's accomplishments.
Ziggy Douglas Innovation in Youth Programming Award
Celebrating chapters that create inspiring opportunities for youth.
Western Pennsylvania Bleeding Disorders Foundation
The Western Pennsylvania Bleeding Disorders Foundation’s Teen Retreat combines education, leadership development, and social connection for teens with bleeding disorders and their siblings. Through hands-on activities covering financial decision-making, medical education, and problem-solving, the retreat builds critical life skills and lasting peer connections.
Val Bias and Todd Smith Innovation in Camp Award
Celebrating chapters that create unforgettable camp experiences for kids and teens.
Arizona Bleeding Disorders Foundation
This award recognizes a chapter that developed innovative camp programming in the previous summer. At the Arizona Bleeding Disorders Foundation's Camp HONOR, children learn self-infusion, life skills, and self-advocacy while building a strong sense of community. Campers leave with greater confidence, independence, and a better understanding of their bleeding disorder.
Congratulations to all the award recipients.
