Eberechi Nwogu-Onyemkpa

Discipline: Physician

Funding awarded to: Baylor College of Medicine

Defining The Role of Palliative Care in Sickle Cell Disease

A two-year project to conduct a Delphi study aimed at defining the role of palliative care in the management of sickle cell disease. Palliative care presents a promising opportunity to address the suffering and increased healthcare utilization in this patient population. Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that disproportionately affects African Americans and significantly reduces life expectancy by up to 30 years. Complications in sickle cell disease arise from end organ damage due to ischemic events during vaso occlusive crises. Sickle cell disease is characterized by acute and chronic pain, depression, anxiety, fatigue, existential distress, and social isolation, which are all exacerbated towards the end of life. Unfortunately, many patients with sickle cell disease lack access to a comprehensive care team that can address their complex medical and psychosocial needs. The primary goal of this project is to gather input from a diverse panel of experts in sickle cell disease and palliative care to establish a sickle cell disease-specific palliative care definition. This definition will guide the development of future studies on the optimal integration of palliative care for this population.

My goal is to become a leading clinician-investigator in the rapidly expanding field of palliative care. I am eager to raise awareness on a national and international scale about the tremendous impact of palliative care on patients, their families, and healthcare outcomes. By advancing the field, I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need and work to address persistent inequities in access to palliative care. To achieve my career aspirations, I plan to engage in research studies that guide the culturally humble integration of palliative care across a range of life-limiting illnesses, such as sickle cell disease.