DETROIT (May 24, 2023) – Hedwig Murphy, M.D., Ph.D., is the new chair of the Board of Directors for the Southeast Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross in Michigan. She assumes the leadership post on July 1.
Dr. Murphy, who joined the board in November 2021, succeeds Phillip McKenna who served as chair from 2021-2023. The board comprises 21 volunteer community and business leaders.
“Hedwig is a passionate leader with a life-long commitment to service,” said Mary Lynn Foster, regional chief executive officer for the Red Cross in Michigan. “Her deep understanding of our mission will greatly enhance our visibility and commitment in the communities we serve in southeast Michigan.”
Foster said she is grateful to McKenna for his board stewardship these past two years. McKenna joined the board in 2009 and will continue to serve. “He provided steady leadership as chair and that made for a seamless transition for Hedwig to take the helm,” she said.
“In the spirit of collaboration, I look forward to working with our board, Mary Lynn and her leadership team, as well as the team of volunteers and employees,” Dr. Murphy said.
Dr. Murphy began her volunteerism with the Red Cross in 2007 as a member of its then Washtenaw County Chapter Board of Directors and served as a volunteer physician medical director for the First Aid Support Team. The chapter later became part of the Southeast Michigan Chapter as part of an organizational restructuring.
In her chair role, Dr. Murphy will work with Foster and her leadership team to carry out the Red Cross mission, provide governance oversight and community relations and fundraising advocacy in southeast Michigan.
In other board appointments beginning July 1, Leonard Rezmierski and Daryl Kaiser will serve as co-vice chairs and Cindy Dion as secretary. These board members are leading the following committees: Leonard Rezmierski, biomedical services; Cindy Dion, board development and engagement; Joya Harris, diversity, equity and inclusion; Kyle Green, mission; Erica Bell and Katie Wendt, philanthropy.
Dr. Murphy has a long and distinguished career in pathology and laboratory medicine and currently serves as emerita clinical associate professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan. She was director of surgical pathology at the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Health System from 2006-2020. Dr. Murphy has authored several books and book chapters, and her research has been published extensively in peer-reviewed scientific papers.
Dr. Murphy holds a bachelor’s degree from the Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Massachusetts and a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. She earned her doctorate and medical degrees from Wayne State University’s School of Medicine. She completed her medical residency at the University of Michigan.
In addition to the Red Cross, Dr. Murphy is a volunteer with the Washtenaw County Medical Reserve Corps.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
David Olejarz
david.olejarz@redcross.org | 313-303-0606
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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.