Dr. Regina Legere-Buccellato has been an active member of the NYCHC community for more than 15 years. After attending her first Walk in 2010, her family returned the following year to establish their own fundraising team, Buccellato Brothers, which has consistently ranked among NYCHC’s top fundraising teams ever since. In recognition of their dedication and service to the bleeding disorders community, Regina and her husband, Salvatore, were honored with the NYCHC Award of Distinction in 2013, NYCHC’s highest honor. In 2019, Regina was further recognized with the NYCHC Advocate of the Year Award for her commitment to advocacy on behalf of individuals and families affected by bleeding disorders.
Regina has served on the NYCHC Board of Directors since 2018, including as President from 2020 to 2024 and returning to the role of President in 2026. During her first term, she led the Chapter through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, working closely with the Executive Director and Board to maintain connection, support, and essential services for the community. In her current role as President, Regina brings institutional knowledge, strong leadership, and a deep commitment to the bleeding disorders community and the long-term sustainability of NYCHC while advancing its mission.
Regina has represented the bleeding disorders community at the local, state, national, and international levels. She has participated in Washington Days with the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) since 2018 and Albany Days with the New York State Bleeding Disorders Coalition since 2019, advocating with policymakers for improved access to treatment and quality healthcare. She has also participated in national and international patient advocacy initiatives, including a Global Hemophilia Patient Council and the NBDF National Research Blueprint Lived Experience Expert Advisory Council, where she has served as an Ambassador and Lived Experience Expert since 2021. Her advocacy has included public awareness initiatives such as the NASDAQ Closing Bell with NYCHC and World Hemophilia Day events in New York City. In 2025, she shared her family’s story in the NYCHC Bleeding Times magazine article, “Our Journey: Saving One Life and Making a Difference for Many More,” reflecting on the profound impact of advocacy, community, and humanitarianism in the Philippines.
Regina’s leadership and lived experience have also contributed to national research and education. She is a co-author and Lived Experience Expert on the 2026 peer-reviewed publication, Lived Experience Expert, community engagement, policy, and health equity, diversity, and inclusion elements of the Bleeding Disorders Research Collaborative, published in Expert Review of Hematology. The article highlights the importance of incorporating lived experience, community engagement, health equity, diversity, inclusion, and policy into bleeding disorders research. She was also acknowledged as a Lived Experience Expert in the 2023 publication, Lived Experience Expert: A Name Created By Us For Us. Regina has presented at the NBDF Chapter Leadership Seminar, NBDF’s Annual Bleeding Disorders Conference, and numerous NYCHC educational programs, including sessions addressing parenting, mental health, diversity, and community engagement.
Professionally, Regina is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with more than 25 years of experience across medical, academic, and community settings. As the mother of two sons with bleeding disorders, she brings a unique combination of professional expertise and lived experience to her advocacy. She is particularly committed to advancing recognition of the psychological and developmental impact of chronic illness and ensuring that mental health, family support, and quality of life remain integral to comprehensive bleeding disorders care.
Through her clinical work, nonprofit leadership, advocacy, and research contributions, Regina remains deeply committed to strengthening the bleeding disorders community and ensuring that the voices and lived experiences of individuals and families are meaningfully represented in care, research, policy, and organizational leadership.
