Baxter and National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) Announce Awards Under NHF Clinical Fellowship Program ~ Baxter-Sponsored Awards Designed to Promote Excellence in Hemophilia Care ~ DEERFIELD, Ill., Nov. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Baxter Healthcare Corporation and the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) announced today the individuals awarded fellowships through the NHF Clinical Fellowship Program. Funded by a $2.125 million educational grant by Baxter over five years, the program was designed to train clinicians in providing comprehensive care for the treatment of bleeding and clotting disorders such as hemophilia and thrombophilia. It was created in response to the need to support new future leaders in hemophilia care. Currently, nine physicians have been selected as fellows by an independent panel since the program's inception in 2003. Funding is awarded to the hemophilia treatment centers where the candidates will be trained. The grants are used for tuition reimbursement, medical school loan assistance and hands-on training to support the fellows' academic pursuits in treating bleeding disorders. Baxter's sponsorship of the program will support fellows through 2007. "People with bleeding disorders have very specific needs and it is so important to enable medical professionals to pursue a specialized training program in hemophilia," said Keith Hoots, M.D., chair of NHF's Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC). "The Clinical Fellowship program supports medical professionals early in their career and allows them to pursue a program at prestigious hemophilia treatment centers, preparing fellows for careers in bleeding and clotting disorders." This program acknowledges the important roles played by the hemophilia treatment centers and physicians who specialize in hemophilia management in the community. The NHF/Baxter Clinical Fellows to date are: * Neil Goldenberg, University of Colorado * Shawn Jobe, University of Iowa * Amy Awaida, Mount Sinai Medical Center * Rebecca Kruse-Jarres, Tulane University Health Sciences Center * Nidra Rodriguez, University of Texas * Raj Kasthuri, University of Minnesota * Char Witmer, The Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania * Leslie Raffini, The Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania * Courtney Thornburg, University of Michigan "Baxter is deeply committed to the hemophilia community, not only supporting R&D but also professional education," said Peter O'Malley, vice president and general manager, Baxter's BioScience business. "This is a valuable program because it provides physicians the opportunity to explore their interest in treating hemophilia, and in turn through their studies, enhance the lives of thousands of people within the hemophilia community." Selection Criteria To be eligible for grants, institutions must have well established hemophilia/thrombophilia treatment centers with qualified clinical and research faculty committed to the development of fellows. Candidates for fellowship grants must have a medical degree, pre-fellowship clinical training and an interest in bleeding disorders. The Clinical Fellowship Program represents a commitment by the NHF and Baxter to advance the treatment of bleeding and clotting disorders. Program information and application materials can be found on the NHF Web site at http://www.hemophilia.org/. About the National Hemophilia Foundation Founded in 1948, the NHF is dedicated to finding cures for bleeding disorders and to preventing or minimizing the impact of these disorders and their complications through education, advocacy and research. NHF has an active network of chapters across the United States and robust education and communications programs that bring health-care professionals and consumers the latest knowledge and information, with the goal of improving the quality of life of all people affected by bleeding disorders. About Baxter Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists health-care professionals and their patients with treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives. DATASOURCE: Baxter Healthcare Corporation CONTACT: Media - Cindy Resman, Baxter, +1-847-948-2815, or Glenn Mones, NHF, +1-917-355-7854; Investors - Mary Kay Ladone, Baxter, +1-847-948-3371 Web site: http://www.baxter.com/ http://www.hemophilia.org/

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