The Annual Sickle Cell Disease Patient & Family Educational Symposiumis the only national sickle cell convention designed, created and hosted by the sickle cell patient and family community. Now in its sixth year, the meeting has grown in size and scope. Each year the meeting is hosted by a partnership of sickle cell community-based organizations, patients and advisors. We are pleased to announce the 2019 symposium will be hosted by the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation, the As One Foundation, and Carol’s Promise Sickle Cell Association.
Our theme this year is SICKLE SIBLINGS: BONDED BY BLOOD, focusing on our chosen families and the warrior relationships that bring us together. The 2019 agenda places heavy emphasis on becoming Expert Patients, while learning to advocate, educate, and encourage ourselves and each other. Sessions include tracks designed specifically for adults, teens and young adults, children and caregivers, and warrior men. The agenda is designed by the sickle cell community with topics identified by patients, caregivers and healthcare supporters, ranging from “Parenting Issues from Birth to Adult” and “The Science of Sickle Cell” to “Sickle Cell Mental Health” and “Sickle Cell and College Life”.
Registration opens Wednesday, July 24th at 3 PM. We begin festivities at 5 PM with an opening reception and ice-breakers. Early risers are invited to join us each morning at 7 AM for morning yoga and workout. The General Plenary session starts at 10 AM on each day, followed by multi-track breakout sessions, workshops, roundtable discussions and panels. We are excited to offer lunch each day accompanied by a main general session on a wide variety of topics of interest to the sickle cell warrior community. Plenty of free-time is dispersed throughout each day to explore all that Texas has to offer.
We are excited to offer several special evening sessions. Join us on Wednesday night for Warrior Game Night. On Thursday we will host Warriors After Dark Men-Only and Warrior after Dark Women-Only (age 17+/15-16 with parent permission). This session is included in full registration and is divided by gender for adults only. We will discuss a variety of adult-themed topics that are important to our warrior community. Friday afternoon has been left completely open to enable participants to enjoy the sights and tourist destinations of Texas. Then grab your ticket for the Warriors Around the World Awards Gala/Prom on Saturday night.
Join other Warriors as we learn from and encourage each other on all aspects of Warrior life, including dealing with work, school, and relationships. We have special programs for teens, parents, couples, and adults living with sickle cell. Our roundtable panels, plenary sessions, and educational lunches all have been developed for sickle cell warriors and caregivers, by sickle cell warriors and caregivers.
Please feel free to share this website as well as the attached flyer with your community and networks. This program was designed by the sickle cell community for the sickle cell community and is directly focused on supporting warriors and our families in the fight against sickle cell disease