Overview
My research has focused on the epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention of the pulmonary and central nervous system complications of sickle cell disease and includes retrospective and prospective cohort studies and clinical trials. I received my Ph.D. in clinical investigation from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for a series of studies to identify predictors of cognitive function in children with sickle cell disease. This work has expanded to the evaluation of the interaction between environment and disease in both children and adults and the functional evaluation of adults with sickle cell disease. My other research interests include the application of large clinical, research, and administrative databases to the study of rare hematological diseases and interventions to improve quality of and access to care for sickle cell disease. I serve on the American Society of Hematology Sickle Cell Taskforce and Sickle Cell Pain Guideline Panel and am co-chair of the American Society of Hematology Healthcare Professional Education and Training Work Group.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Hydroxyurea for Children with Sickle Cell Disease: A Practical Guide for Pediatric Clinicians.
Journal Article Pediatr Clin North Am · February 2026 Hydroxyurea is the cornerstone therapy for children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA; ∼64% of children with SCD) should be started on hydroxyurea as infants and continue treatment throughout childhood. Hydroxyurea reduc ... Full text Link to item CiteRole of Menstrual Bleeding Assessments in Sickle Cell Clinics.
Journal Article JAMA Netw Open · December 1, 2025 IMPORTANCE: The interplay between sickle cell disease (SCD) and reproductive health remains understudied. Menstruation is particularly complex in individuals with SCD, who may have delayed puberty, early menopause, abnormal uterine bleeding, and overlappin ... Full text Link to item CiteImproving the Quality of Whole-Person Healthcare Delivery: Critical Components of a Sickle Cell Disease Nurse Navigator Role.
Journal Article Prof Case Manag · November 2025 PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a complex genetic hemoglobinopathy which is associated with a severely shortened lifespan; the median age of death remains in the low 50's. Individuals living with SCD have complex medical, psychological, an ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Advancing a Holistic Understanding of Variability in Lived Experience with Sickle Cell Pain
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030CSL889_2001: A phase 2/phase 3, multicenter, randomized, multiple-dose, double-blind, placebo-controlled adaptive study to evaluate the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of CSL889 in adults and adolescents with sickle cell disease during VOC
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by CSL Behring LLC · 2025 - 2028Randomized Control Trial of The SickleFit Exercise Program in Older Adults with Sickle Cell Disease
ResearchMentor · Awarded by Medical College of Virginia Foundation · 2025 - 2028View All Grants