The American Red Cross highlighted former WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine leader John Vassall, MD, in a feature about his involvement with the humanitarian organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a teenager in Brooklyn, New York, he founded and served as president of his high school’s Red Cross club. An early interest in medicine and reading at the public library about the history of blood donation and blood banking during World War II brought him to the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have always been a joiner, and I like to take part in the running of the organizations I join,\u201d says Dr. Vassall in the article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The club’s 40 members assisted with more than a dozen blood drives and also learned about first aid and disaster response. The article includes a photo of a Red Cross Youth recruitment flyer featuring a young Dr. Vassall in action, preserved by his family for decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Vassall served in multiple leadership roles at the WSU College of Medicine during his six-year tenure, including Everett regional dean and senior director of leadership faculty, leveraging his extensive experience as an internal medicine physician and health care system administrator. He remains involved with the college in a volunteer and affiliate capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n