Hess Laboratory

Our research is focused on understanding changes in red cell mass and improving the storage and post-transfusion survival of blood. We work with established and novel techniques for red cell mass measurement, with a long-term goal of improving transfusion therapies and our understanding of stored red cell physiology in health and disease.

Dr. Hess also studies patients’ understanding of numbers – ‘health numeracy’ – and its relationship to health equity, decision making, and perioperative outcomes. Dr. Hess’s led the Anesthesiology Numeracy Study, a cohort study of perioperative outcomes related to health numeracy and the first published report on numeracy in patients undergoing general anesthesia. A follow-up study is currently being developed through collaborations in the Departments of Biostatistics and Psychology.