15-04-2025
Dr. Jonathan Roberts: Leading expert in rare bleeding disorders
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — His passion lights a path forward for those with rare bleeding disorders.
'I'm involved in helping to craft policies that help to shape national guidelines and recommendations for management with people with other bleeding disorders,' said Dr. Jonathan C. Roberts, MD.
Dr. Jonathan Roberts is the associate medical director and research director for the Bleeding and Clotting Disorders Institute (BCDI) in Peoria.
'I'm very fortunate that I'm uniquely suited, that I can share my personal experience and really connect with my patients on a personal level when they're right in front of me,' said Dr. Roberts. 'I also am able to impact the larger global community because I have a unique voice and perspective when it comes to policymaking and research endeavors in that regard. I myself have severe hemophilia A, so from being a very small child I had the personal drive that I wanted to take care of people who had a similar disorder to what I have. That led to a lifelong pursuit and then ultimately my career and what I do day-to-day.'
He recently received the Rod Niederman Humanitarian Award for his services to the international community.
'This award is in memory of a fellow blood brothers we like to call each other who had severe hemophilia, who passed away from the HIV epidemic that happened to the bleeding disorder community back in the eighties and very early nineties,' said Dr. Roberts. 'That affected my family as well. I had two uncles with severe hemophilia a who ended up succumbing to HIV before the treatments got as good as they are now. In my early childhood [that] was a huge personal motivating factor, to see my uncles suffer to then, you know, help other people who have similarly been affected. So, this humanitarian award is really in memory of that generation.'
He pours himself into helping people with Hemophilia, Von Willebrand Disease, and more. His reach goes far beyond the Greater Peoria area, reaching a global stage.
'Lecturing at patient events, across the state, across the country,' said Dr. Roberts. 'I've been invited some places internationally for research collaborations and serving as faculty. I'll speak at a local patient event or I'll speak at our national/international conferences with oral presentations and publications.'
With more than 70 peer-reviewed research publications, Dr. Roberts hopes to continue crafting and creating breakthrough research to make a difference in everyone's lives.
World Hemophilia Day is April 17.
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BCDI leaders hosted their 14th Annual Trivia Night The Great Outdooors last Friday where supporters helped surpass a fundraising goal of $150,000. Contributions help BCDI's foundation to support patients, aid in education efforts, uplift scholarship opportunities, and more.
'Our staff here at BCDI who put it on – we couldn't do it without them,' said Dr. Roberts. 'It gets better and better every year.'
If you missed the trivia event, BCDI leaders are preparing for their inaugural Food Trunk Frenzy.
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