Leveraging more than 40 years of real estate experience, Roy MacDowell is the principal of Baystone Development, a real estate developer in Massachusetts. Roy MacDowell is a former trustee of Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), which operates a platelet donation program.Here are some frequently asked questions about platelet donation:Question: What are platelets?Answer: Platelets are cells in the blood that help the blood clot to prevent bleeding. The average platelet survives for approximately five days.Q: Why donate platelets?A: Platelets are used in the treatment of cardiac, cancer, and transplant patients. In particular, platelets serve a crucial function for cancer patients, preventing serious bleeding episodes in the month following bone marrow transplants.Q: How does donation work?A: Medical professionals use a platelet pheresis machine to extract blood, remove the platelets, and then return the blood via a single sterilized needle. The process lasts between one and two hours, and individuals can donate up to 24 times per year. Prior to donation, donors should eat a healthy meal and make sure they are well hydrated. Further, donors should avoid ibuprofen and aspirin for 72 hours before donating.
An experienced real estate developer, Roy MacDowell is a principal at Baystone Development in Weston, Massachusetts. Roy MacDowell remains actively involved in his community and is a former president of the board of trustees of the Rivers School in Weston. One main focus of the Rivers School is college readiness, which includes starting the college search process early. In the winter of students' freshman year, counselors hold workshops that introduce students and their parents to the college search process and give them an idea of what to expect in the years ahead.The major work begins in the junior year, which kicks off with a student and parent workshop that discusses how the school helps students find the best college for their goals. The junior year also has regular “Fireside Chats” during which families address their concerns with college admissions deans or directors. Additional workshops are available for students involved in athletics and those planning on campus visits. Also during the junior year, a private family meeting takes place in which students and their parents talk about their college goals and expectations.
A veteran of the real estate development industry, Roy MacDowell is a principal with Baystone Development in Weston, Massachusetts. Deeply involved with the community, Roy MacDowell formerly served as president of the board of trustees for The Rivers School in Weston.The Rivers School believes in the importance of teaching children innovation and exposing them early to new technologies. Students at the school are supported with laptops and iPads to participate fully in the classroom and complete assignments independently. In addition, teachers are always looking for unique ways to bring technology into the classroom.For example, in English classes, students use the Animoto video app to create trailers for the books that they read and make engaging presentations. Meanwhile, a ceramics teacher uses the Google+ network to connect the class. Through the platform, students can post peer critiques and maintain digital portfolios of their accomplishments.Even athletics at The Rivers School are enhanced by technology. The cross-country running coach uses a video app to record runners and analyze their form with them on a frame-by-frame basis so that they know exactly how to improve.
