The WFH Susan Skinner Memorial Fund (SSMF), named in honour of the late Susan Skinner, a passionate advocate for the bleeding disorders community, aims to foster leadership and active engagement for women with bleeding disorders who are between 18 and 60 years old. The SSMF creates a platform for women at different life-stages and from different backgrounds and levels of experience within the bleeding disorders community to learn from, and empower, one another.
The 2026 SSMF scholarship was awarded to the following advocates: Aya Hiba Dahmane, Algeria; Devika Bandara, Sri Lanka; Hina Fatima, Pakistan; Noemy Diaz-Burgos, U.S.A.; Paulina Aristizabal, Canada; Paxton Mills, U.S.A.; Shanthi Hegde, U.S.A.; Sofia Rojas, Costa Rica; Sylvia Kathurima, Kenya; Wajiha Javaid, Pakistan; and Yujie Zuo, China.
Participants described the program as a transformative experience that strengthened both their knowledge and confidence as advocates. Sofia Rojas from Costa Rica shared that, “Being selected as a scholar was an incredibly meaningful and enriching experience… [and] gave me the opportunity to learn from global leaders.” Hina Fatima, from Pakistan, explained that the SSMF scholarship was an opportunity to, “Learn from experts and connect with peers from around the world.”
Most scholars said the experience inspired new ideas, fostered meaningful relationships, and reinforced their commitment to improving care and support for people with bleeding disorders in their communities.
Looking ahead, participants shared their plans to apply the lessons learned in their own countries and expressed a desire to share their knowledge to build on the connections made through their experience, describing it as an opportunity to help create lasting improvements in care.
Devika Bandara, a Medical Laboratory Technologist from Sri Lanka, said that she is motivated to focus her future research on women and adolescent girls who may have bleeding symptoms or a family history, but remain undiagnosed.
Aya Hiba Dahmane, from Algeria, is planning to create a women’s committee in her NMO. All recipients shared their concrete plans for leveraging their learnings and connections to further care for women and girls with bleeding disorders.
To find out more about the WFH Susan Skinner Memorial Fund (SSMF) scholarships, click here.
Join us in creating a lasting impact by empowering the next generation of SSMF scholars! Your contributions support WFH programs to advance diagnosis, treatment and care for people with bleeding disorders. Click here to find out more.