Editor’s Note: In commemoration of Red Cross Month and Women’s History Month, we are publishing a series of #LeadLikeClara profiles featuring local women volunteer leaders who emulate the leadership characteristics of Red Cross founder Clara Barton.

By Judith Weeks

Blood Donor Ambassador Kathleen Dykers “loves just connecting with the donors at Red Cross Blood Drives. It is such a wonderful experience. Many just want to talk, others come in and they are business-like and others are nervous and need to be talked to. This is why I keep coming back.” 

She volunteered for the American Red Cross in 2020, at the early stage of the COVID pandemic. Kathleen was attracted to Biomedical Services and volunteered to be a Blood Donor Ambassador. Her career as a Medical Laboratory Technologist gave perspective of how important blood donations are. Med Techs, who staff hospital blood banks, are well aware of the critical need for enough blood units for patient care and medical emergencies. Importantly, she is Lead Biomedical Scheduler, finding volunteers for shifts when not covered. For her leadership role Kathleen was recently honored with the Biomedical Services Exceptional Volunteer Award

In addition, Kathleen is a dedicated Duty Officer for Disaster Services. “The Duty Officer is so powerful, working with the fire captains and lieutenants dispatching Disaster Action Teams to help those affected by a house fire. Speaking with people who have suffered a lot in a very difficult situation is humbling.”

She admires the committed volunteers who go out and meet with those affected by a house fire or other disaster.  “It is very eye-opening” she explained. Having recently completed Disaster Services Deployment Training she is ready to go when there is an opportunity.

Kathleen is also a member of the Community Outreach Team representing the American Red Cross at community events providing American Red Cross information about donating time, money, blood, and teaching life-saving skills so communities can be better prepared.

The American Red Cross is highlighting women who #LeadLikeClara. For Kathleen, Clara Barton was the founding mother of the American Red Cross giving of herself for humanitarian service. “Because of Clara, the American Red Cross is historically linked with women. So many women have volunteered. Today it is refreshing to see how many have been given leadership positions!”

Kathleen is well-rounded, volunteering for other organizations. She is committed to “Host for Hospitals,” opening her home to a patient or patient’s family while in a health institution in Philadelphia. Right now she is hosting a woman from New York who is undergoing surgery. Her passion is traveling. She literally has traveled “all around the world”, including Europe, Japan, China, Vietnam, South Africa. In April she’s going to Australia and New Zealand!