Debbie Murray is a Certified Nurse Manager, Certified Health Coach (CHC), Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) and Case Management Administrator Certified (CMAC). Currently, she is the Director of the Population Health Outreach and Care Coordination Services at the Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC).Debbie Murray worked as the Manager of Telephonic Support Program at CCNC. She also worked at the North Carolina Clinical Research and Growing Child Pediatrics as Registered Nurse (RN) and Director of Clinical Services, respectively.Murray graduated with a BA degree from the Wake Technical Community College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Debbie Murray also authored a poster about the sickle cell disease initiative and presented it at two case management conferences. She also spoke about Sickle Cell Disease and care management at additional conferences in the fall of 2017. Online profile

Dr. Scott is affiliated with General Pediatric Division and Pediatric Cancer Center of Downtown Hospital campus, Upstate University Hospital. She works as a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology specialist at the Upstate Pediatric and Adolescent Center and Waters Center for Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders, under the Upstate University Hospital. Dr Kathryn Scott is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Upstate University Hospital. Dr. Kathryn completed her residency in General Pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology from Brown Medical School / Hasbro Children's Hospital. She also completed MPH (Masters in Public Health) from Brown University. Dr Scott focuses on treatment of bleeding disorders and childhood cancers and performs various procedures like blood transfusion, bone marrow aspiration, bone marrow biopsy, chemotherapy, clinical trials, genetic testing, infusional therapies, lumbar puncture, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation. She also appeared on a radio interview talking on the subject of outlook for people with sickle cell disease. Online profile

Samuel Rodgers-Melnick, MT-BC is a music therapist specializing in the care of adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). As a clinician at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Sam developed several interventions directed at improving pain management outcomes in adults with SCD in both inpatient and outpatient settings.He developed a structured music therapy program for young adults with SCD aimed at improving self-efficacy, trust in the medical profession, and SCD knowledge in collaboration with the pediatric and adult SCD teams. He also designed and constructed the first mobile recording studio for the University Hospitals system.Currently Sam is focusing his research on developing and investigating a comprehensive multi-session intervention to address quality of life and chronic pain in individuals with SCD and also serves as the principal investigator for two music therapy research studies examining the effects of music therapy on adults with sickle cell disease.He also contributed to the research article published in 2017 titled “The effects of music therapy on transition outcomes in adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease.” Online profile

Sickle cell disease (SCD) — an inherited disorder that causes a person's red blood cells to become deformed and get stuck in veins, blocking oxygen flow throughout the body — can cause severe pain, stroke, organ failure, and even death. There is no widely available cure for SCD, and care is inconsistent in the United States and wholly absent in large parts of the world. To highlight the urgent need for change, in 2016 the American Society of Hematology (ASH) issued a report and report card on the state of SCD based on a survey of individuals with SCD, health care providers, and global health leaders. Two years later, SCD stakeholder groups have conducted a follow-up survey to measure progress. The good news is that this 2018 report card suggests we are making progress; however, the scores also indicate that we have much to do to improve the state of care for those living with SCD. Abstract source

 The Sickle Cell Podcast is an effort by the Sickle Cell 101, a nonprofit organization. It talks about sickle cell, sharing warrior experiences and providing sickle cell related education. To listen to the audio podcast, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to download and subscribe to podcasts.Sickle Cell 101 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that specializes in sickle cell education on social media and other platforms. Their mission is: We are a non-profit organization educating all people affected by sickle cell through the use of social media. Related story

Currently, sickle cell disease has no widely available cure. However, if you have the disease, certain treatments can help with your pain. Good health care is important for people who have sickle cell disease, so see your doctor regularly. Work with your doctor to create a pain control plan that makes sense for you, and carry it with you if you go to the emergency room. ·      Mild pain is often treated at home. More severe pain may need to be treated in a clinic or hospital. ·      Fluids can help prevent dehydration, which can worsen pain. ·      Over-the-counter pain medicine can help with mild to moderate pain. ·      Stronger medicines called opioids may be prescribed for more severe pain. ·      Ask your doctor about a medicine called hydroxyurea that may decrease pain episodes. Some patients may benefit from taking a new medicine called L-glutamine oral powder. Talk to your doctor to determine if this medicine is right for you. ·      Other methods for managing pain include getting physical therapy, using a heating pad, or engaging in activities, such as listening to music, that help distract you from the pain. Abstract source

Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) is home to a comprehensive sickle cell program. Staffed by pediatric hematology physicians (doctors who treat blood disorders), nurse practitioners, trained nurse coordinators, social workers, an educational specialist, and a nutritionist, this multidisciplinary team will deliver highly specialized care to your child. The program also includes: • Transfusion therapy • Comprehensive hydroxyurea therapy • Dedicated transition coordinator for patients transition to adult physicians • Specialized pain management • Comprehensive stroke clinic • Conducts national clinical research Appointments at multiple locations make treatment convenient and accessible to patients throughout Hampton Roads and surrounding regions. Sickle Cell Anemia is the most common form of sickle cell disease. Children who have the disease inherit two genes for sickle hemoglobin — one from each parent. There is no cure for sickle cell anemia but there are treatments to help prevent complications. Research has shown that children cared for in a comprehensive sickle cell center have fewer complications and a better quality of life. Official website

Dr. William Owen is a pediatric hematology/oncology specialist at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. His clinical interest includes treating patients with leukemia, sickle cell disease, immunological diseases which affect the blood and bone marrow and histiocytic diseases. Dr. William has served as the leader in the development of several clinical programs at the hospital, including the peripheral stem cell transplantation and comprehensive sickle cell programs.  Dr. Owen has also served in various roles on regional, state and national committees ranging from chairman of the EVMS admissions committee to a participant on the sickle cell disease expert panel for development of quality of care indicators at Boston University.Dr. William Owen has a strong interest in global health and has made multiple trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic to provide direct health care, to help establish medical screening programs, and to aid in the educational process of local medical providers. Representative Publications: Pain and other non-neurological adverse events in children with sickle cell anemia and previous stroke who received hydroxyurea and phlebotomy or chronic transfusions and chelation: results from the SWiTCH clinical trialIncreased prevalence of potential right-to-left shunting in children with sickle cell anaemia and strokeHydroxycarbamide versus chronic transfusion for maintenance of transcranial doppler flow velocities in children with sickle cell anaemia-TCD With Transfusions Changing to Hydroxyurea (TWiTCH): a multicentre, open-label, phase 3, non-inferiority trialEffects of chronic transfusions on abdominal sonographic abnormalities in children with sickle cell anemiaMorbidity and mortality in chronically transfused subjects with thalassemia and sickle cell disease: A report from the multi-center study of iron overload  Online profile

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