Empowering the next chapter of global support for individuals with bleeding disorders

Save One Life is proud to announce the election of Michelle Kim as the new President of the Board of Directors. A longstanding advocate and leader in the rare disease and bleeding disorders communities, Michelle brings a wealth of experience, passion, and vision to guide the organization into its next phase of growth and impact.

Michelle officially joins the Board following years of distinguished service in the nonprofit and healthcare advocacy sectors. Most notably, she served as Executive Director of the Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California from 2015 to 2022, where she launched more than ten innovative programs, including leadership initiatives for youth. Her leadership earned her the title of Businesswoman of the Year for Non-Profits in 2019 by her State Senator.

Throughout her career, Michelle has been a tireless champion for underserved communities. She co-founded Familia de Sangre, now the largest Spanish-speaking conference dedicated to bleeding disorders, and developed critical legal resources for patients and families navigating school advocacy, special needs trusts, and immigration challenges.

Michelle is also a published advocate for patient-centered care. She co-authored the article, “Lived experience experts: A name created by us for us,” which calls for deeper inclusion of patient and caregiver voices in research and policy-making. She was nominated and approved by the White House as the only patient advocate member of the ACBTSA (Advisory Committee for Blood and Tissue Safety) reporting to the HHS (recently defunded). 

Her advocacy is deeply personal. For over 20 years, Michelle cared for her daughter, who lived with five rare diseases until her passing in March 2024. This lived experience continues to shape her commitment to improving the lives of families facing similar challenges.

Michelle resides in Southern California with her husband and two sons, one of whom has severe hemophilia A. In her personal time, she enjoys pickleball, fishing, and traveling.

In taking on this new role Michelle shared, “Over the past decade, treatment for bleeding disorders has advanced tremendously. Yet despite this progress, a majority of people around the world still have little to no access to life-saving medications. It is my sincere hope that our community will come together to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those less fortunate. I am truly excited to partner with Cindy and her phenomenal team, whose vision and dedication will help drive this important work forward.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Michelle as our new Board President,” said Cindy Komar, Executive Director of Save One Life. “Her leadership, compassion, and lived experience bring extraordinary strength to help advance our mission and deepen our global impact.”

Save One Life extends its deepest gratitude to its supporters and community members for their continued commitment. With Michelle’s leadership, the organization looks forward to an inspiring new chapter - continuing to change lives, one life at a time.