This September, the Cayenne Wellness Center will host its 20th Annual Sickle Cell Disease Educational Summit, a milestone that underscores two decades of advocacy and education in the fight against sickle cell disease. Scheduled from September 16 to 20, 2026, at the Marriott Long Beach Downtown in Long Beach, California, the summit will also be accessible online, ensuring broad participation. The event is presented under the theme “20/20 Vision: Our Legacy Continues,” and is designed for healthcare professionals, educators, social workers, students, individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease, and the broader community.
The summit’s origins trace back to a patient’s demand for better care. As Dr. Carolyn Rowley, Executive Director and Founder of Cayenne Wellness Center, explains, “Twenty years ago, this Summit began because one Warrior demanded more—more awareness, more education, and more understanding from the healthcare professionals caring for them.” That warrior, Stephanie Mulkey, and nurse Pat Corley, RN, sparked a movement that has grown from a half-day gathering into a five-day comprehensive conference. Despite Stephanie’s passing before the first seminar, her vision persists, driving the summit’s evolution into a platform for education, connection, and advocacy.
The summit arrives at a pivotal moment in sickle cell research and treatment. In 1910, Dr. James B. Herrick first described the sickle-shaped cells in Walter Clement Noel. Today, the landscape has transformed dramatically with two FDA-approved gene therapies and three FDA-approved disease-modifying treatments, alongside a robust pipeline of new therapies. Yet, as Dr. Rowley notes, “We honor how far we have come, but we also recognize how far we still have to go.” This anniversary serves as both a celebration of progress and a call to continue the fight for better care and outcomes.
The five-day summit will feature a diverse array of sessions addressing both clinical advances and the lived experiences of those with sickle cell disease. Wednesday, September 16, will focus on treatment, research, and the physician experience, with discussions on FDA-approved and emerging therapies, red blood cell exchange, gene therapy, and community-engaged research. An evening Physician Track will include pain management and a panel titled “Real Talk, Real Pain: Perspectives from Physicians Living with Sickle Cell Disease.”
Thursday, September 17, will explore wellness, sickle cell trait, and reproductive health, offering sessions on acupuncture, acupressure, sound healing, reflexology, nutrition, trait awareness, reproductive counseling, gene therapy, insurance, and communication strategies. Friday, September 18, will address living and thriving across the lifespan, covering topics such as transition, dating, marriage, careers, aging, caregiving, financial planning, and men’s and women’s health, culminating in an award ceremony, dinner, and benefit concert.
Saturday, September 19, will shift focus to mental health, technology, and storytelling, with sessions on trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, wellness, artificial intelligence in medicine, and personal narratives. The summit will conclude on Sunday, September 20, with a visit to the Scar Stories Exhibit, an artistic and personal portrayal of sickle cell experiences. Throughout the event, attendees can engage with vendors, exhibitors, and authors, access community resources, and participate in wellness and networking activities.
Registration for the summit is now open, and interested participants can register at https://cayennewellness.org/scd-educational-summit-2026/. Organizations and businesses seeking to connect with attendees can reserve a vendor or exhibitor table via https://tinyurl.com/SVENDOR2026. Cayenne Wellness Center and Children’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2000, remains dedicated to improving quality of life for those with sickle cell disease through education, advocacy, and comprehensive support.
