Anna Gora
Commemorative Speech- Work of Dr. Pablo Rubinstein
Baruch College
PAF 9199
Hi everyone! Today I have the pleasure to tell you how honorable Dr. Pablo
Rubinstein is within National Cord Blood Program, New York Blood Center. Thanks to
him many children and adults are able to have happy lives due to the remarkable work he
has done with umbilical cord blood. Dr. Rubinstein is a pioneer for his innovation of
freezing the umbilical cord that can be used in treating different types of blood diseases
such as Leukemia or sickle cell anemia. Dr. Rubinstein developed the world’s first cord
blood program at New York Blood Center with the purpose of having stem cell inventory
for unrelated match grafts for patients. In 2011, due to the remarkable work National
Cord Blood Program became the first cord blood bank to receive licensure by the United
States Food and Drug Administration for its Hemacord. I had the pleasure to work with
Dr. Rubinstein at New York Blood Center trying to find out more about umbilical cord
stem cell potential and the benefits to patients.
Let me remind you that umbilical cord stem cell research is not cloning, as it can
be very confusing when we hear the words stem cells. After a baby is born the cord that
connects the baby and the mother is cut and discarded. Inside of that cord are some stem
cells that are building blocks of life. Stem cells are found all over our body like in body’s
organs. What is remarkable of stem cells is their ability to differentiate into additional
specialized cells like blood cells. It is no wonder why they are so invaluable in medical
field.
Let me share with you story of Keone Penn and how cord blood stem cell
transplant changed his life. Some kids wish to be basketball players, princesses, engineers
or teachers while some wish for cure so they can grow up and pursue their dreams. Keone
Penn was born with severe sickle cell anemia; it is a disease that affects more than 70,000
of Americans with disproportionate number of African-Americans. Instead playing
outside with other children Keone spent many days at the hospital suffering in pain, who
already experienced stroke at age of 5. As a last resort doctors began to consider the stem
cell transplant. Keone’s sister failed to be a bone marrow donor and no unrelated bone
marrow donor match was found. As a result, Keone doctor decided to try transplantation
with cord blood from unrelated donor. Keone was the first recipient for umbilical cord
stem cell transplant tried for sickle cell disease.
On December 11, 1998 at AFLAC Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta, Keone had his cord blood transplant. Keone's doctor transplanted Keone with a
matching cord blood unit that had been previously donated to the New York Blood
Center's National Cord Blood Program. The recovery process was not easy for Keone as
complications arouse but eventually these complications subsided. At last the new stem
cells started to make normal red blood cells. As a result, Keone joint swellings and pain
subsided and year later doctor’s pronounced him cured. Keone was able to pursue his
dreams of becoming a chef.
It is remarkable the work Dr. Rubinstein do with cord blood that is able to give so
many patients ability to live and make their dreams come true. Dr. Rubinstein does not
feel heroic in any way for his work but many see him like a hero and God send. To this
day Dr. Rubinstein and the rest of the team are working hard in finding out the potential
of cord blood. The biggest obstacle is the volume of the umbilical cord blood as it is
roughly 25 ml. I remember Dr. Rubinstein saying to me, “If we can just find a way to
combine two umbilical cords we would be able improve so many lives.” However, Dr.
Rubinstein passion and dedication to the science community is noteworthy. I have faith in
National Cord Blood Program under direction of Dr. Rubinstein that we will be hearing
even more success stories from patients on how cord blood stem cell transplant has
helped them.