On Mar. 15, 1937, the world’s first blood bank was opened at Cook County Hospital in Chicago by Dr. Bernard Fantus who created a blood bank preservation laboratory. Fantus, Director of Therapeutics at Cook County Hospital, coined the term blood bank’ through an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association in July 1937.

The Bernard Fantus Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), recognizes individuals who have made numerous and significant contributions to the blood banking and transfusion field during the previous 50 years. This award is so prestigious it;s given out in intervals of no less than five and no more than 10 years.