By sharing their time and knowledge, WFH volunteers play an instrumental role in advancing access to care and treatment for people with bleeding disorders worldwide.
International Frank Schnabel Award
The International Frank Schnabel Award was established in 2004, in honour of WFH founder Frank Schnabel. It is given to an individual with hemophilia, an inherited bleeding disorder, or to a family member, who has contributed significantly to furthering the mission and goals of the WFH.
Carlos Safadi Márquez was presented with the International Frank Schnabel Award during the Opening Ceremony on April 19. Carlos Safadi Márquez is an individual living with severe Hemophilia A whose life and work have had a profound impact on the global bleeding disorders community. For nearly two decades, he has been a dedicated volunteer with the WFH serving in key leadership roles, including the Board of Directors, Vice President representing national member organizations and key governance and administrative committees. Through his contributions to WFH initiatives, and his leadership of the Fundación de la Hemofilia, in Argentina, he has helped to expand patient support, education, and access to care for people with bleeding disorders.
WFH International Lifetime Achievement Award
This Award was established in 2006 and is given to an individual in recognition of a body of work over a period of time. Recipients have contributed to furthering the mission and goals of the WFH in a particular region, country or professional area, throughout their career and for a significant part of their lives.
The WFH International Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ampaiwan Chuansumrit, MD, during the Opening Ceremony. For more than 35 years, Chuansumrit has devoted her career to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals living with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. Her partnership with the WFH began in 1989 and has continued for decades through leadership, mentorship, and commitment to strengthening care globally. One of her most enduring contributions has been her leadership as Director of the International Hemophilia Training Centre in Bangkok where she trained and mentored healthcare professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, helping to build sustainable expertise and strengthen care systems for people with bleeding disorders. She has also made significant contributions to scientific knowledge, authoring more than 200 peer-reviewed publications that have helped shape best practices in hemophilia care worldwide.
WFH International Award for Outstanding Service
Established in 2010, this Award is given to an individual or an organization that has demonstrated outstanding service to the WFH and to furthering the mission of the WFH. The recipient is a role model and will have demonstrated leadership, commitment, and active dedication to serving the bleeding disorders community. The recipient’s efforts have resulted in a measurable difference in the care of people with bleeding disorders.
During the during the Opening Ceremony, Albert Farrugia was presented with the WFH International Award for Outstanding Service. Albert Farrugia is a globally respected expert whose work has helped shape the safety and regulation of blood and blood products. Originally from Malta and later based in Australia, he has dedicated his career to strengthening systems that ensure safer treatment for patients, work that is also deeply personal, as he is living with mild hemophilia A. He played a pivotal role in the development of the Australian Blood Transfusion Services, a contribution recognized with the Ruth Sanger Oration Medal. His leadership within the global bleeding disorders community has been significant, including his contribution to the development of the WFH Global Forum. More recently, he contributed to the WFH applications supporting the successful update of the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List in 2025.
Albert Farrugia wasn’t able to accept his award in person, and provided this quote: “I have been honoured by serving my fellow sufferers from bleeding disorders for all my life. Our community has suffered much, but through resilience and solidarity we have overcome many hurdles. Today, we stand on the edge of a cure, but for those of us in poor countries, we still await access to basic care. We will overcome this as well. I dedicate this award to the memory of my brother, who I lost to hemophilia 57 years ago, and to all those who labour so that we may thrive.”
To find out more about the WFH volunteer awards, please click here. To find out more about the WFH 2026 World Congress, click here.
