UAMS Hosts Free Sickle Cell Disease Symposium Sept. 12

By Benjamin Waldrum

The symposium brings together leading researchers, clinicians, patients and community advocates to share the latest advancements in sickle cell disease research and treatment, identify current challenges and gaps, and develop strategies to accelerate progress towards a cure.

The event is free and runs from 1 to 4 p.m. in the 12th floor auditorium of the Jackson T. Stephens Neurosciences & Spine Institute on UAMS’ Little Rock campus, but can also be attended virtually through Zoom.

Keynote speakers are:

  • Santosh Saraf, M.D., associate professor of medicine and director of translational research for the Sickle Cell Center of the University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Shenoy Shalini, M.D., professor of pediatrics at Washington University in St. Louis and director of the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
  • Muthu Veera Kumaran, M.D., formerly Muthu Veeraputhiran, director of the hematology section and clinical program director for stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
  • Sunny Singh, M.D., director of the UAMS Adult Sickle Cell Program

There will also be a panel discussion featuring sickle cell patients, as well as a Q&A session with sickle cell experts.

Registration is required to attend in-person or virtually. To register, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/annual-sickle-cell-symposium-tickets-630037698717.

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,275 students, 890 medical residents and fellows, and five dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.

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