How to Care for Sickle Cell Patients: Interview With Dr. Andrew Campbell

In this video, I am joined by Dr. Andrew Campbell, the Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Before his move to Washington, he directed the University of Michigan Comprehensive Pediatric Hemoglobinopathies Program and was the co-director of the Minority Health International Research Training Program at the University of Michigan Medical School, Center for Human Growth and Development. He also directed a Fogarty grant training program focusing on health disparities affecting child health. He is a faculty member and mentor of the Northern Pacific Global Health Research Fellows Training Consortium, Ghana site.

For the past several years he has focused his research on understanding the varied phenotypic expression of sickle cell disease in different populations through the multinational Consortium for the Advancement of Sickle Cell Disease Research (CASiRe), which he directs.

Advice to healthcare providers from a pediatric hematologist

In this video, Dr. Campbell shares his motivations for becoming a pediatric hematologist and his advice to other healthcare providers. His biggest tips include being compassionate and empathetic, but above all – believing the patient! He discusses how lack of compassion and racism has led to a lot of the disparities sickle cell patients face – from neglect and lack of resources to a lack of understanding.

Sickle cell research development

He also discusses upcoming research and the progress being made to provide better treatment options to patients. In this video, you will learn about ongoing research developments and things to look out for in the treatment of sickle cell disease. For patients, his biggest advice is to learn how to advocate for themselves and stay hopeful.