This September, Cayenne Wellness Center will host its 20th Annual Sickle Cell Disease Educational Summit, a milestone that reflects two decades of progress and persistent advocacy for those affected by sickle cell disease. Scheduled from September 16 to 20, 2026, at the Marriott Long Beach Downtown and online, the summit brings together patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and community members under the theme "20/20 Vision: Our Legacy Continues."
Dr. Carolyn Rowley, Executive Director and Founder of Cayenne Wellness Center, emphasized the summit's origins: "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. Stephanie Mulkey, a Warrior, and Pat Corley, RN, listened and responded. Although Stephanie passed away before she could see the first seminar she helped plan, her vision lives on."
The summit's evolution from a half-day gathering to a five-day event mirrors the expansion of treatment options. As Dr. Rowley noted, "In 1910, Dr. James B. Herrick published his observations of the unusual, elongated sickle-shaped cells found in an intelligent Negro named Walter Clement Noel. One hundred and sixteen years later, we enter our 20th Annual SCD Educational Summit with two FDA-approved gene therapies and three FDA-approved disease-modifying treatments, an extraordinary pipeline of new therapies, Warriors living fuller lives, and caregivers insisting that their voices be seen and heard."
The five-day program covers a wide range of topics. Wednesday focuses on treatment and research, including FDA-approved therapies, red blood cell exchange, gene therapy, and a physician panel on pain management. Thursday explores wellness modalities like acupuncture, nutrition, and reproductive health, alongside sickle cell trait awareness. Friday addresses living with the disease across the lifespan, covering transition, careers, aging, and financial planning, followed by an awards ceremony and benefit concert. Saturday delves into mental health, technology, and storytelling, with sessions on AI in medicine and personal narratives. The summit concludes Sunday with the Scar Stories Exhibit, an artistic portrayal of sickle cell experiences.
Registration is now open for warriors, families, caregivers, and professionals. Interested attendees can register at cayennewellness.org/scd-educational-summit-2026. Vendor and exhibitor opportunities are also available; organizations can reserve a table at tinyurl.com/SVENDOR2026.
Cayenne Wellness Center and Children's Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2000, has been a steadfast advocate for sickle cell patients in California. The organization provides comprehensive care, education, and advocacy, working to improve quality of life for those affected. This 20th summit is a testament to the progress made and the work that remains. As Dr. Rowley stated, "This 20th Annual SCD Educational Summit is more than an anniversary—it is a testament to every Warrior, caregiver, healthcare professional, advocate, and visionary like Stephanie who believed that people living with sickle cell disease deserved more. And we are still demanding more."
