Dr. Nancy Van Buren, MD

Media Releases

Get to know Pathologist and Transfusion Medicine Specialist, Dr. Nancy Van Buren, who serves patients throughout the State of Minnesota.

Nancy Van Buren, MD is a board certified pathologist with subspecialty certification in blood banking and transfusion medicine. As a seasoned pathologist, she has a broad spectrum of experience in both blood center and hospital-based practices. She recently retired as a medical director and CLIA laboratory director at Memorial Blood Centers in Minnesota with associated medical director responsibilities at affiliated blood centers in Nebraska and Kansas City, divisions of New York Blood Center (NYBC). She is currently a consultant for NYBC enterprises and holds staff privileges at Children’s Hospitals of Minnesota and Hennepin Healthcare HCMC where she served as Transfusion Services Co-Medical Director. 

Dr. Van Buren obtained her medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1983, completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at Regions Hospital in 1987, and went on to complete a fellowship in blood banking and transfusion medicine at the University of Minnesota in 1988.

She is board certified through the American Board of Pathology (ABPath). The mission of the ABPath is to promote the health of the public and advance the practice and science of pathology by establishing voluntary certification standards and assessing the qualifications of those seeking to practice the specialty of pathology.

Professionally, she is a Fellow of the American Society for Clinical Pathology and the College of American Pathologists. During her career, she has served in multiple physician leadership positions, volunteering time for committee work with local, regional, and national professional organizations, including the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB), America’s Blood Centers (ABC), and the Minnesota Association of Blood Banks. She is enthusiastic about promoting the cause of blood donation and healthcare equity, and is a firm believer in education for the next generation of pathologists and medical laboratory professionals. She is an author of over 40 published journal articles and abstracts, 12 Blood Bulletins circulated by ABC, and 6 book chapters related to blood banking and transfusion medicine. Among previous honors and awards, she was recognized by the Consumers’ Research Council of America in their “Guide to America’s Top Physicians” in 2006 and 2007.

On a more personal note, Dr. Van Buren attributes her success to her passion for the science of medicine, and her dedication and ability to make a positive and direct impact on patient care.

Recommended Articles

• How to Deal with Lymphoma Treatment Fatigue

  Treatment fatigue is a very common problem among lymphoma patients. Whether the patient is doing pharmaceutical treatments, chemotherapy, or other treatments, they will likely lead to fatigue and a feeling of being burnt out.This article will go over what treatment fatigue is, symptoms that are...

• What Could Scabs on Your Scalp Be Telling You?

  IntroductionThe scabs that occur on the scalp can be quite itchy, frustrating, and unsightly. Scratching the scalp can also worsen the problem along with increasing the risk of developing an infection. In most cases, the scabs on the scalp tend to clear up on their own without the use of...

• Try a Gluten-Free Diet: It May Ease Fibromyalgia Pain

  Fibromyalgia causes pain all over your body and intense exhaustion. This disease is a common, but painful, condition that affects your bones and muscles, and it is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. There is no cure for fibromyalgia and only a combination of medication, exercise, healthy habits,...

• Steroids for Multiple Sclerosis

  What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?Multiple sclerosis is a medical condition that affects the brain and the spinal cord. Some of the early symptoms of this disease include numbness, tingling sensations, blurry vision, and feeling weak. Individuals with MS also report other symptoms such as thinking...

• What to Do If Your Baby Has a Milk Protein Allergy

  Milk Protein AllergyOne of the most common food allergies in babies and young children is cow's milk allergy. The good news is that milk allergies are usually outgrown by babies when they turn 2 or 3 years old. Its symptoms are usually managed by consuming a dairy-free diet. Regular milk is...

• Do I Have a Pinched Nerve?

  Pinched nerve, or nerve compression, refers to a situation in which the surrounding tissues apply pressure on a nerve. Pinched nerve may cause severe pain, tingling, numbness, or other symptoms. Nerve compression may affect different sites of the body and this may result in varied symptoms. The...