Episode One: The Challenge of Sickle Cell

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Akintunde (Tunde) Ahmad

Tunde is a multimedia journalist focused on the intersection of education, economic inequality, and the justice system. An East Oakland native, he holds a BA in sociology from Yale University and an MS in journalism and documentary film from Columbia University.

Brooklyn Haynes

Brooklyn is an Oakland native and has been a patient at Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland since she was two-months old. She considers her Oakland medical staff as family. Brooklyn is passionate about sharing her sickle cell experiences with others, and recently started her own Instagram support group for adults with sickle cell disease.

Christabel Nunoo

Christabel is a first-generation Nigerian/Ghanaian-American opera singer and Oakland creative. She first discovered her love for music in her youth as a member of The Young Musicians Program and went on to study classically at The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Through her art, she hopes to facilitate healing within her community and inspire change-makers in society.

Marsha J. Treadwell, PhD

Dr. Treadwell is a psychologist who cares for children and families living with medical conditions and undergoing treatments, with a special focus on those affected by sickle cell disease. She helps patients and families develop and maintain resilience to better cope with stress. She is Co-Director of the UCSF Sickle Cell Center of Excellence, and Professor in the UCSF Department of Pediatrics Division of Hematology.

Elliott Vichinsky, MD

Dr. Vichinsky is a board-certified pediatric hematologist/oncologist with a major interest in understanding and improving the care of patients with hemoglobinopathies. He is the Director of the UCSF Sickle Cell Center of Excellence, Professor in Residence at UCSF, as well as the Director of the Northern California Thalassemia Center.

Mark Walters, MD

Dr. Walters is a Professor in Residence in the UCSF Department of Pediatrics, who specializes in blood and bone marrow transplants. He is also director of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland. Walters' research focuses on transplant and gene therapy for sickle cell disease and thalassemia – which are both red blood cell disorders that involve abnormalities of hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen).

Wanda Williams

Wanda is a founding member and current co-chair of the Sickle Cell Community Advisory Council (SCCAC) of Northern California, and a former high school teacher and school administrator for the Hayward Unified School District. As a person with sickle cell disease, she has spent most of her life advocating for people living with the disease.