We Say Goodbye to Ruth Brown after 30 Years

Goodbyes are never easy but saying goodbye to a colleague after 30 years is especially difficult. Ruth Brown, the former vice president of programs, retired from Hemophilia of Georgia (HoG) after three decades of devotion and exceptional service on Jan. 3.

Ruth began consulting with HoG while still enrolled at Emory University (what is now called Rollins School of Public Health), earning her master’s in public health. She was recommended to HoG for a project that has now become one of the most notable resources for inherited bleeding disorders in the world. Ruth wrote The Hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease & Platelet Disorders Handbook on her own, using only a pencil and paper. Today, the handbook is used around the world and we are forever grateful for her contribution.

Ruth officially became a full-time employee in 1989. Eventually, she was promoted to vice president of programs, where she helped this organization grow in a number of ways. Primarily, she developed new programs and services to improve the lives of those with inherited bleeding disorders.

“When I started, we had fewer than 500 clients in our registry,” she said. “Now, we have over 1,500. We have initiated a number of programs over the years, such as developing our own summer camp, Camp Wannaklot, and having family camps. Our nursing services and social work services have expanded. I’m very proud that over the years the agency has responded to the needs and concerns expressed by our clients and their families.”

Now she devotes her days to several hobbies and interests, and most importantly, time with her loved ones. “Over the years I have been involved in projects to remove native invasive plant species and promote native plants to save pollinators and improve the environment,” she said. “I’ll now have time to do more. I also have two young grandchildren who love attention.”

Still, she looks back on her 30 years fondly and she is excited about the future for people with inherited bleeding disorders. “I feel very fortunate to have worked with such smart, talented, and committed people who really care about our clients and providing excellent service to them,” she noted. “I’m excited that treatment for bleeding disorders is improving at a rapid rate and that the community recognizes the importance of keeping treatment safety at the forefront.”

Robert Gillespie, the former HoG regional coordinator, has been named the new vice president of programs. “I am so grateful to have worked with Ruth for the past 9.5 years and gained so much knowledge from the person who literally wrote the book on hemophilia,” he said. “I plan to honor what she has built and continue to grow and expand our services and programs. She asked that we stay true to our mission, and I plan to do exactly that.”