Rate My Professor Sarah Kowalski

Sarah Kowalski serves as a Lecturer in Laboratory Medicine within the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, College of Health, at Adelaide University. She holds a Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine from the University of South Australia and a Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) from Monash University. Her research interests encompass transfusion medicine and education in transfusion medicine. In her academic role, she coordinates and delivers the Transfusion and Haemostasis course, designated as MEDI 3012 for 2025 delivery. This undergraduate course equips students with essential theoretical knowledge and hands-on laboratory skills in transfusion medicine and haemostasis. Key topics include blood product manufacture and clinical use, blood group systems, immunohaematology principles, pre-transfusion testing procedures, antibody identification and investigations, transfusion reactions, haemolytic disease of the newborn, direct antiglobulin test (DAT) positive patient investigations, haemolytic anaemias, haemovigilance practices, quality management systems, and ethical considerations in transfusion practice. The haemostasis component covers platelet function, primary and secondary haemostasis mechanisms, clotting factors and pathways, fibrinolysis processes, anticoagulant therapies, bleeding and thrombotic disorders, antithrombotic treatments, laboratory testing methodologies, automation technologies, and point-of-care diagnostics.

Alongside her university appointment, Sarah Kowalski works as a Senior Transfusion Scientist at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, contributing to the customer experience and clinical education teams. In this capacity, she develops specialized educational resources for transfusion scientists throughout Australia and collaborates with transfusion laboratories to ensure the safe and effective delivery of blood products. Her previous professional experience includes serving as a Senior Medical Scientist at SA Pathology, where she supervised transfusion laboratories at Lyell McEwin Hospital and Modbury Hospital. She also functioned as the Training Coordinator for Transfusion services at SA Pathology, developing and coordinating new training programs to support professional development in the field. Through these roles, Kowalski demonstrates a strong commitment to education, safety, and excellence in laboratory medicine and transfusion practices.