Sickle Cell Disease Partnership members
Our Members
The Partnership is composed of Sickle Cell Disease patient and community organizations, health care providers who have experience caring for Sickle Cell patients, manufacturers of medical products, health plans, researchers, and others interested in improving the lives of patients living with Sickle Cell Disease.
Member Spotlight

Regina Hartfield
Sickle Cell Disease Association of America
“Over 100,000 people in the United States live with sickle cell disease, but the number impacted by it is much higher. Sickle cell warriors feel the pain, but their communities hurt with them. We call on our policymakers to address sickle cell knowing that taking action won’t just change our warriors lives – it will change the lives of all the people connected to them. The time is now to step up for sickle cell.”

Ashley Valentine
Sick Cells
“Sickle cell disease is a complex and painful, chronic disease. It’s the most common blood disorder in the world, yet in the United States and many other countries, the disease itself carries a stigma associated with racism, disparities, and erasure from research, policy, and access to quality care. These realities have shaped a community that is resilient and when united, can make great change.
Together, we are working to change the landscape for SCD and ensure that each generation of SCD warriors and their families have an easier path than the previous. The Sickle Cell Disease Partnership exists to work across the community and health sector to level the playing field and push forward concrete policies that can improve the lives of millions of people who are touched by SCD.
We are already seeing more public awareness about SCD. Our goal is to anchor the awareness in action through legislation and regulatory movement.”

Cheryl De Pinto, MD, MPH, FAAP
American Academy of Pediatrics
Senior Vice President, Primary Care and Subspecialty Pediatrics
Senior Vice President, Primary Care and Subspecialty Pediatrics
“The American Academy of Pediatrics believes all children with sickle cell disease deserve the highest quality primary and specialty care. It is vital that leaders institute policies and initiatives in alignment with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s report to reduce health care disparities affecting people with sickle cell disease, and we must collaborate with communities to develop innovative approaches to reduce the impact of sickle cell disease on the health and well-being of children and families.”

Philip Sanders
Former Sickle Cell Patient and Advocate
“Preventive treatments for the pain crises and chronic anemia due to Sickle Cell Disease have become more prevalent and innovative in our generation. To make treatments accessible to all Americans with this disease, policymakers must confront existing disparities facing the Sickle Cell Disease community and respond by adopting innovative policy approaches.”

Daron Watts
Black Women’s Health Imperative
“The time is now to improve outcomes and address historic inequities for people living with Sickle Cell Disease. The Partnership will build support for proven policy recommendations as we help drive innovation and investment in research to support promising therapies to treat and cure Sickle Cell Disease.”

Martha L. Liggett, Esq.
American Society of Hematology
Executive DirectorH
Executive DirectorH
“The American Society of Hematology (ASH) is pleased to be part of the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Partnership, which aligns with the Society’s long-time commitment to improve outcomes for individuals living with SCD. In 2015, ASH launched a transformative, multi-faceted, patient-centric initiative to address the burden of SCD world-wide. Our efforts include improving patient access to care, advancing research to bring more and better treatments to patients, and sharing educational and counselling materials with patients and their families. ASH administers the Sickle Cell Disease Coalition, which includes over 100 member groups that work together to improve coordination across the SCD community. This Partnership complements ASH’s ongoing focus and leadership in SCD advocacy, and serves as a helpful platform for coordinated action to raise awareness for SCD, increase resources for federal SCD programs, and improve access to high-quality comprehensive care for individuals with SCD.”