A hematology specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Nero cares for patients with non-malignant (non-cancerous) blood and bone-marrow conditions that include sickle cell disease, abnormal blood counts and a range of anemias and platelet disorders, including thrombocythemia. Dr. Nero also leads UT Southwestern’s pioneering Transition Sickle Cell Program, which educates adolescents with sickle cell disease about their condition, teaches them to manage their own health, prepares them for the adult medical system to which they transition at age 18, and helps them develop relationships with the post-transition providers who will care for them. Dr. Nero also counsels sickle cell disease patients, both before and after they are sexually active, about the implications of having this inherited disease when they start families. Because the patients, depending on their mate’s carrier status, are at a risk of having a child with sickle cell disease, she welcomes her patients to invite their partners to participate in this discussion during clinic visits so they can make informed choices as a couple. Dr. Nero tries to educate patients, not make choices for them and prepare them for what they need to know when they’re making decisions that affect their health. Online profile

Lashawn Hutchinson is CEO at Shawn's Testimony since January 2007. Her objective here is to find a way to have SICKLE CELL respected and NOT HIDDEN ANYMORE! According to Lashawn Hutchinson, Shawn's Testimony is not just about her and her SCDLIFE. This site is about and for all those that feel their illness is not getting the respect that it is due. Online profile

Dr. Rothman treats children with cancer and blood disorders, such as anemia and sickle cell disease. She tries to spend a lot of time with their parents and discuss about the plan to care for their children. Her goal is to make it the least scary as possible for both the children and the parents/caregivers while providing the best care. Even in the setting of severe illness, interacting with children is uplifting and extremely rewarding for her. Dr. Rothman participates in clinical research in a variety of blood disorders including sickle cell disease, immune thrombocytopenia and bone marrow failure. Through these studies, she hopes to improve the ability to care for children with blood disorders. She has an interest in medications and new ways to treat sickle cell disease, but also study quality of life and outcomes of other blood disorders. She has found that children and parents find participating in research to be incredibly rewarding. Online profile

Dr. Walker is a Research Assistant Professor in the Vascular Medicine Institute at University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Walker is currently a Sickle Cell Scholar at Pitt. Her basic and translational research projects continue to investigate mechanisms related to pharmacologic therapies for sickle cell disease. Dr. Walker’s primary research goal is to identify novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). Her current projects are focused on identifying cellular and molecular modulators that mediate efficacy and toxicity of hydroxyurea, which is currently the only FDA approved drug for SCD. Dr. Walker’s work was the first to identify specific cell membrane transporters and microRNAs associated with the pharmacokinetics and clinical outcomes of hydroxyurea. Online profile

Jane Little, MD, is a Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology and Director of UNC Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease program at The University of North Carolina School of Medicine. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology and fellowship trained in Hematology/Oncology. Her special clinical interests include benign (non-cancerous) blood diseases, primarily sickle cell disease, and bone marrow transplantation. Dr. little was appointed Director of the Adult Sickle Cell Disease Program at UH Seidman Cancer Center in 2011. Prior to joining University Hospitals, she served as an attending physician and hematology consultant at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. Online profile

Dr. Wanda Whitten-Shurney is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist in Detroit, Michigan and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Children's Hospital of Michigan and Harper University Hospital. She received her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine. During her 29 years as a passionate clinician specializing in treating Detroit-area children with sickle cell disease at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan DMC, Wanda Whitten-Shurney has worked relentlessly to help kids and their families manage the chronic ailment while enjoying healthier, more active lives. Now she’s being recognized for her long career as a pediatric physician who specializes in treating sickle cell disease. Online profile

Robany Chandler was a health educator in Adult / Pediatric Care Sickle Cell Program of Community Health Interventions and Sickle Cell Agency, Inc. (CHISCA, Inc). CHISCA, Inc. is a non-profit 501©3 “Umbrella” organization with a focus on the care, prevention and education of individuals and families affected by Sickle cell disease, HIV/STD’s, Diabetes and other health disparities. CHISCA continuously pursues “collaborative partnerships” to address problems associated with health disparities by bringing together representatives from various segments of the population to assist in implementing culturally appropriate solutions. Online profile

Nene Kalu is a social worker at Center for Sickle Cell Disease, Howard University. Online profile

Sheresa Walker-Brown is a Developmental Therapist at The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA). Earlier, she was Sickle Cell Educator at North Carolina Sickle Cell Syndrome Program. Online profile

Kyle Smith is a sickle cell warrior and a patient advocate. For Kyle, living with sickle cell disease since childhood was challenging. Since childhood, Kyle had many pain crises and had lots of hospital admissions. Though he did not have any limitations, Kyle's energy level was not always high to do some work. He has learned to cope up with his disease and helps other too by being a sickle cell advocate. Online profile