Children’s National Hosts Sickle Cell Disease Educational Event

Children’s National Health System hosted a sickle cell disease event on Sept. 24, 2018 to bring awareness and education to our staff and community. Andrew Campbell, M.D., director of the Children’s National Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program, introduced the event’s keynote speaker, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SSCDAA) President and CEO Beverley Francis-Gibson. The event included presentations from various government and advocacy organizations, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, as well as reflections from families affected by sickle cell disease.

The most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 people. One in 13 African Americans has the sickle cell trait. The Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program at Children’s National is one of the largest pediatric programs in the country. Our team provides comprehensive care to more than 1,400 patients in the Washington, D.C., region using an age-appropriate approach to deliver the best available treatments. From the Infant Sickle Cell Program to our Sickle Cell Adolescent Transition (SCAT) Program, Children’s National offers care and support to provide a sense of well-being and normalcy to children and families.

The only available cure for sickle cell disease is a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. At Children’s National, we have completed more than 50 bone marrow transplants for sickle cell disease since 1996. We are also one of the first programs that pairs patients with repeat blood donors who have the closest genetic match. The Transfusion Buddy Program reduces patients’ risk for complications.

With dedicated pain clinics and even dentists experienced in treating sickle cell patients, the comprehensive program works to help kids grow up stronger.