Join in with our free RCPath Book Club event featuring 'Nine Pints: A Journey Through the Mysterious, Miraculous World of Blood'.

Synopsis

Most humans contain between nine and twelve pints of blood. Here, award-winning investigative journalist Rose George (who probably contains nine pints), tells nine different stories that reveal the richness and wonder of the potent red fluid that courses around our bodies, and considers the taboos, perceptions and pioneering science that have evolved around it. You can read a short extract of the book here. 

'Filled with super-interesting facts that will leave you with a new appreciation for blood.' – Bill Gates

‘Fascinating…George boldly wades forth into tides of red stuff to shed light on matters as diverse as leeches, vampires, blood types, platelets, blood donation, menstruation and haemophilia…immensely readable.’ – The Times

 

About this event

Join Rose George, author of Nine Pints, and an expert panel to discuss the key themes and ideas explored in this book.

This event will take place via Zoom webinar and will be recorded. A video will be available on our YouTube channel after the event. You don't need to have read the book to join in with this event.

How to get involved 

1. Register for the RCPath Book Club event.
2. Join the Zoom webinar on Wednesday 24 February from 5.50pm for a 6pm GMT start.

Please contact [email protected] if you have any queries.

About the Author

Rose George is the author of several books, on refugees, sanitation, shipping and blood. Nine Pints was a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize, and one of Bill Gates’ reading picks. For her next book, she will go back to sea to write about fish. 

About the chairperson and panellists

Dr Shubha Allard (chairperson) is a Consultant Haematologist at NHS Blood and Transplant which is the national blood service for England. She is also Clinical Director for Publishing & Engagement for RCPath where she greatly enjoys highlighting the role and expertise of various pathology colleagues both medics and scientists in patient care and promoting wider public awareness.

She loves the outdoors and can’t wait to get back to visiting the Languedoc and their now rather wild garden on a French hillside. The photo was taken at RHS Wisley and not their garden!

Dr Guy Hannah is a Consultant Haematologist in South London, specialising mainly in diagnosis (and treatment) of blood cancers. He has an interest in the digitization of blood and bone marrow microscopy, and utilizing the power of genomics to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of blood cancers in patient. He also plays an active role in training new haematologists, and is a frequent contributor to the RCPath engagement programme to inspire the next generation.

When not looking down the microscope, his spare time is spent with his two small children, and he likes to spend Saturdays in the summer standing in a field, dressed in white, chasing a red leather ball around, when he is allowed.

 

Dr Shruthi Narayan – Originally trained in paediatrics from India and residing in UK for nearly two decades now, Dr Shruthi Narayan has seen and worked in two contrasting healthcare systems. She is a strong advocate of the NHS and is proud to be working in one of the greatest healthcare systems around the world, meeting the needs of everyone, free at the point of delivery and based on clinical need not ability. She is a haematologist and loves her role as the Medical Director of Serious Hazards Of Transfusion (SHOT), the UK haemovigilance scheme and has an additional role as a Donor Consultant at NHS Blood and Transplant.

She enjoys travelling with family, has dabbled in pottery, loves her indoor plants with orchids, banana plants and other tropical plants. She is passionate about patient and blood donor safety initiatives, is actively involved in teaching and several service improvement projects. She loves planning and making lists but clearing the clutter at home is something she has never managed to tick as completed. Miserable at DIY but great at coming up with ideas, she spends her time with her husband and son and of course her adorable but cheeky border collie who is a bundle of joy and happiness.

June Okochi was born in London. She currently works for the National Health Service in London as a Senior Programme Manager supporting front line clinicians to transform care for patients. She is the author of poetry collections, ‘Days of Desire’ and ‘Seasons of a Wandering Heart’. When June isn’t working or writing, she can be found wandering the corners of the world. She is also a lover of poetry, film, music, art, naps and wine. She mentors children and young people in London living with sickle cell, a condition she was born with and suffers herself.  She is an active advocate nationally and globally for individuals living with sickle cell.