FINALIST: Physician
Amy D. Shapiro, MD
Medical Director, Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center, Inc.
(IBJ Photo/ Perry Reichanadter)
Amy Shapiro, M.D., knows what it’s like to be a kid in the medical system, and how illness can affect all aspects of
family life. That’s what inspired her, at the age of eight, to become a physician.
She found her niche in pediatric hematology, a field that allows her to form long-term relationships with patients.
Shapiro, 57, moved to Indiana in 1987 from Colorado to head Indiana University’s hemophilia center, which in 1998 became
the Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center, Inc., or IHTC, an independent, not-for-profit program. Hemophilia, a rare,
hereditary blood disorder that restricts the blood’s ability to clot, affects one in every 5,000 male births. The symptoms
of hemophilia primarily affect men, but women who carry the disease can also be symptomatic.
One of the largest federally recognized hemophilia treatment centers in the U.S., IHTC operates clinics statewide and is
currently involved in 40 clinical trials. It offers patients cutting-edge therapies and access to research protocols. But
it wasn’t able to impact the sub-standard health care of Indiana’s Amish population until Shapiro made it a priority.
“I started working with members of their community to try to understand the cultural parameters that dictated some
of the decisions they made…to try to come up with solutions that would address these health care disparities and still
fit the bounds of what they considered to be acceptable,” Shapiro said.
Shapiro’s ability to foster long-term relationships based on trust won over Amish community leaders, and their hemophilia
care improved greatly. In fact, the first patient in the world to be infused with genetically engineered Factor 9 concentrate
for hemophilia B was an Amish patient—and it was Shapiro who administered the infusion.
“I think that’s a testament to their openness to participate in projects and their access to state-of-the-art
care now,” she said. Her peers consider it a testament to her compassion and sincerity.
Shapiro, who was recognized with the Distinguished Hoosier Award by Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2009, has greatly expanded health
care services to the Amish community. In 1998 she pioneered the first Amish-run Community Dental Clinic in Topeka, Ind., which
makes preventative and acute dental care and education available to many people within the community, including the uninsured.
She is now helping to organize a health care clinic to treat children with genetic disorders.
“She has helped raise more than $1.2 million for the cause so far, and has no plans of stopping until the state-of-the-art
facility is complete,” said Chris Roberson, IHTC’s director of Compliance & Community Programs. “Dr.
Amy Shapiro is the epitome of selfless and tireless dedication to worthy and noble causes.”
Her work also reaches beyond Indiana’s borders. She is partnering with the World Federation of Hemophilia, the IU School
of Medicine and Moi University to develop a stable, long-term program in benign hematology in Eldoret, Kenya.
“I think there are opportunities wherever you are, with whoever you meet, to make your little corner of the world better,”
Shapiro said. “The patients whose lives you can affect give your work meaning. That’s a real blessing.”•
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Heartiest congratulations!
I am really happy & inspired to know about your untiring efforts in providing services to hemophilia.
I am an hemophilic of factor IX deficiency, have become a pathologist, working as professor in a medical collge.Naturally my sufferings have made me to develop commitment
to establish hemophilia care services to my blood brothers.With the help of my family & friends, founded non profit organisation, " Karnataka Hemophilia Society at Davangere, 250 KM from Banagalore, Karnataka in India.
Now, we could develop " Karnataka Hemophilia Care & Hematology Research Centre" successflly, reaching out more than 500 patients.
I had an opprotunity to lead Hemophilia Federation, India as President & participated in world congresses of WFH.
I lookforwrd to be associated with you for your guidence & support for carrying on our work, here.
once again congratulations & warm regards,
Dr Suresh Hanagavadi,
Medical Director,
Karnataka Hemophilia Care & Hematology Research Centre,
Hemophilia Society,
Davangere.