Damian Mullins, a laboratory supervisor with 24 years of service, behind the scenes ensuring blood and biological products are safe, tested, and ready to support patients and communities when they need it most.
Most people never see the work that happens inside a medical laboratory, but chances are, they’ve been helped by it. Every day, medical laboratory professionals play a vital role in patient care, ensuring lifesaving blood products and test results are safe, accurate, and ready when they’re needed most. During Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 20–26, we’re proud to recognize these behind-the-scenes teams and thank them for the work they do every day.
One of those professionals is Damian Mullins, a laboratory supervisor who has spent the last 24 years supporting the Red Cross mission.
In his role, Mullins oversees the laboratory manufacturing process from start to finish, leading a team of about 20 to 25 staff members. His focus is simple, but critical: quality, safety, and patients.
“Our goal is to make sure we’re putting out a safe, quality product,” Mullins said. “At the end of the day, it’s about taking care of patients and saving lives.”
That mission-driven purpose is what has kept him with the Red Cross for more than two decades.
“I enjoy being able to say that I’m a humanitarian,” he said. “That really means something to me.”
Over the years, Mullins has seen the Red Cross respond to some of the nation’s most challenging moments. From natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina to national emergencies such as 9/11, he takes pride in the organization’s ability to act quickly and compassionately when people need help most.
“At the end of the day, it’s about taking care of patients and saving lives.”
Damian Mullins
“We’re direct and immediate when it comes to crisis situations,” he said. “That responsiveness is something the Red Cross is known for, and I’m proud to be part of that.”
While laboratory teams may not always be visible during these moments, their work is essential. Lab professionals ensure that blood and biological products meet the highest standards, making it possible for responders and hospitals to deliver care without delay. It’s a responsibility that requires precision, teamwork, and dedication, often under tight timelines.
For Mullins, another reason he’s stayed so long is the people.
“It’s a great culture,” he said. “There’s a lot of diversity, a lot of caring, and a real effort to support one another. We don’t just take care of people in the community, we take care of each other, too.”
That sense of care is reflected across Red Cross laboratories nationwide, where professionals quietly make a difference every day. Their work may happen out of the spotlight, but its impact is felt in every transfusion, every emergency response, and every life touched.
During Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, we celebrate Damian Mullins and all lab professionals whose expertise and commitment help make our mission possible. Thank you for the skill, precision, and heart you bring to your work and for the countless lives you help save.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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