Ron Newton wants your blood. That’s because he has seen the benefits of donating blood as the technical director for United Blood Services. Ron is also an inventor and has devised more than 80 products used throughout the world. Ron has been married for 41 years and has two children and two grandchildren. Previously, Ron worked as a medical technologist in area hospitals, as a hospital administrator at Barton Memorial in South Lake Tahoe and as a research director at Bruce Industries. Ron is a Scotsman (yes, he wears a kilt) who brews his own beer. He encourages everyone to donate blood Jan. 3-4 at the All-Reno Radio blood drive at the Atlantis Casino-Resort. Ron is looking forward to retiring at the end of the year after eight years with United Blood Services.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment would probably be the invention of a surgical instrument that is being used across the world to remove hemorrhoids. It’s patented in the United States and many other countries, and it is FDA approved.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
That would be watching me dance. I don’t dance at all, so if I’m forced to dance, it’s definitely an embarrassing moment.
What has been your greatest achievement at United Blood Services?
I invented what is called a platelet warmer that allows the shipping of platelets in cold weather. It extends shipping times up to 48 hours and is presently being used by blood banks all over the place.
What’s something someone who knows you well would be surprised to find out about you?
Probably that I’m retiring, because I’ve been working all my life.
Do you give blood?
Of course.
Does it hurt? Be honest.
It’s only a minimal pain.
What is your secret to success?
Tenaciousness and hard work.
What does the future have in store for United Blood Services?
Further growth and automation.
What are your plans after your retirement?
We are going to help move my son and his family to France. He recently received a contract with an electronic engineering firm there. I am also consulting [for] a blood bank in [the Republic of] Georgia, and I’m waiting to hear about a grant from NASA for the Mars probe three years from now.
What will you do with that?
It’s to devise an instrument that measures ultraviolet light on Mars, which helps to determine if there was life on Mars. I’m working on developing the instrument. This doesn’t mean that it will be taken up there. We will just have a chance to work on it.