Award: Advancements in Healthcare

The launching of the Sentara-Eastern Virginia Medical School Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program in October gave adults somewhere to go for specialized treatment other than Richmond. The clinic brings specialists from internal medicine, hospital medicine, pain management and psychiatry under one roof to treat adults with sickle cell disease, one of the most common genetic disorders in the U.S.

“Historically, across the nation, there has not been an equitable investment in sickle cell care compared to many other diseases that affect majority populations,” said Dr. Michael Hooper, chief academic officer for Sentara Health. “We saw that as a discrepancy we wanted to address locally.”

Hooper and Dr. Madeeha Deo, medical director of the new clinic, were nominated for their award for making specialized care for sickle cell disease more accessible.

They shared insights with Inside Business.

Can you describe the Sentara-EVMS Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program and why it’s needed? The Sentara-EVMS Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program was established to support a large group of patients in our community that require multidisciplinary, complex care on a regular basis to manage a multisystem, genetic disease. Having a clinic that has expertise in sickle cell disease allows us to provide higher quality, faster care to patients and prevent them from developing life-threatening complications. This type of approach has been shown to be effective in other communities and we felt that it was necessary in ours.

How do you measure success in community programs? We will consider our clinic a success if our outcomes are good (fewer complications, fewer hospitalizations, fewer symptoms) and our patients/community members are satisfied and supported.

How do you cope with challenges unique to sickle cell care? Sickle cell disease is a lifelong disease that can cause pain as well as significant organ dysfunction. It is vital that we support these patients with the expertise, supplies, resources and medications that are needed to prevent physical and mental health complications known to arise. This requires intensive medical care and monitoring, nursing care, pharmacy support, social work and mental health support. We are so proud of our entire team that has dedicated themselves to delivering this care.

What are you most proud of?

Hooper: I’m proud of the EVMS clinicians who have chosen to accept these challenging jobs in order to support a clear care gap in our community. They have clearly chosen to do this out of a sense of moral and ethical responsibility. Having that sort of drive in our community is wonderful to see.

Deo: I am most proud of our patients, who have placed their trust in us and shared their lifelong journeys, helping to build a safe and supportive clinical home for themselves and future generations. I am also incredibly proud of our partners at Sentara, who have gone above and beyond to ensure we have the support and resources needed every step of the way. This program would not have been possible without their unwavering commitment and dedication.

What lessons have you learned along the way? Caring for patients with sickle cell disease has taught us that health care requires compassion, expertise and advocacy. Every patient’s journey is different, and by listening and providing tailored, multidisciplinary care, we can help prevent life-threatening complications, reduce hospitalizations and improve quality of life. Managing pain goes beyond prescriptions; it requires dignity and a holistic approach that supports both physical and mental well-being. We’ve also learned that having a strong community and the right resources makes a world of difference. Most of all, we’ve seen that with the right care, sickle cell patients don’t just survive — they thrive.