New chapter builds on years of collaboration to expand access to specialized care, education, and support for Guam’s bleeding disorders community

NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) announced the official creation of Guam Chapter of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. The new chapter is the result of years of collaboration with the local bleeding disorders community and Region IX of the Hemophilia Treatment Center Network to improve access to comprehensive care, patient education, and community support on Guam.

Staff from NBDF have been working with the bleeding disorders community on Guam since 2023 to address concerns about access to specialized care and support.

“We met with about 43 members of the community on Guam in 2023 after we heard some concerns that they weren’t getting access to the type of treatment and care that the community needed,” said Kenneth McElderry, director of chapter development for NBDF, and part of the team working with the community on Guam. “The most important issue to them was getting access to comprehensive care. So our first step was making sure they could get access to hematologists, nurses, and physical therapists.”

“The biggest need we heard from the community was for a medical team that specializes in bleeding disorders, along with better information about how to access care,” said TaniaMarie Mendiola-Sgambelluri, a community member, advocate, and parent of children affected by bleeding disorders.

Since 2023, the Guam Comprehensive Hemophilia Care Program of the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services, the HRSA Western States Regional Hemophilia Network, NBDF, and local volunteers have worked together to expand access to care for people with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and other rare bleeding disorders. Through this collaboration, a rotating team of hematologists, nurses, and physical therapists now conducts twice-yearly comprehensive clinic days on the island.

The partnership has also expanded educational and community-building opportunities for local families. NBDF and local volunteers have hosted twice-yearly Education Days since 2023, and in May 2026, NBDF held the first bleeding disorders family camp on Guam, drawing 76 members of the community.

“When we talked to the community, they said they wanted a chapter,” said Mendiola-Sgambelluri. “We began working to create a chapter that could provide education, support, and advocacy for people with bleeding disorders and their families on Guam.”

Guam Chapter, National Bleeding Disorders Foundation will provide local education, support, advocacy, and community-building programs while operating as part of NBDF’s national chapter network under NBDF’s regional model.

The chapter’s inaugural events will take place the weekend of October 16, beginning with a clinic day on Friday and a community education day on Saturday, culminating in Guam’s first-ever Unite for Bleeding Disorders Walk.

“We want the bleeding disorders community in Guam to know that we are in it for the long haul,” said McElderry. “We’re going to make sure they are getting access to the level of care they deserve, the same level of education about available treatment options they deserve, and the community support they deserve.”

“For the past few years, NBDF has been such a great help to the families on Guam,” said Mendiola-Sgambelluri. “This chapter will benefit not only the patients now, but children and the generations to come. With what we’re building today, future generations will know more about their bleeding disorder and how to handle it in their daily lives.”

Learn more at gu.bleeding.org.

About The National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF)

The National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) is dedicated to finding cures for inherited blood and bleeding disorders and addressing and preventing these disorders’ complications through research, education, and advocacy, enabling people and families to thrive. NBDF serves people across the United States with all bleeding disorders, including hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, rare factor deficiencies, and platelet disorders. Formerly the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF), NBDF has changed its name and domain from hemophilia.org to bleeding.org.

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SOURCE National Bleeding Disorders Foundation