Knowledge is Power: Blood Equity, Community Health and Access
Our Blood. Our Voices. Our future. Join us for a powerful community conversation on sickle cell disease, blood equity and public health.
About
Join us for a powerful community conversation on sickle cell disease, blood equity and public health. Become a donor hero by participating in the blood drive presented by Versiti Blood Center of Ohio!
Sickle cell disease is more than a medical condition — it is a public health issue, a health equity issue and a call to action.
Come hear from patients, caregivers, physicians, researchers, blood donation experts, public health leaders and policymakers as we discuss how we can work together to improve access to care, expand blood donation, reduce health disparities and create lasting change.
What to expect:
- Blood equity and blood donation
- Free community health resources
- Powerful patient and caregiver stories
- Public health and health equity discussions
- Emerging gene therapies and innovation
- Health policy and advocacy
- Community organizations and resources
- Opportunities to take action
Whether you are living with sickle cell disease, supporting a loved one, a healthcare professional, student, advocate, blood donor or community member — your voice matters.
Together, we can build healthier communities through education, partnership and action.
Free parking will be available in the Union Hall South Garage for this community event.
Schedule:
- 10 a.m. — Arrival, Check-in and Breakfast Student Organizations: MPHSA, UHA Columbus, NBWM, & W.A.V.E.
- 10 a.m. — Community Blood Drive with Versiti Blood Center of Ohio
- 10:30 a.m. — Welcome/Opening Remarks ~ MLK Auditorium Natalie Donnally, Presiding
- Felice Thomas, President, Faith Thomas Foundation
- 11 a.m. — Panel Discussions
- Noon — Summary
- Call to Action (Allen and Hood)
- Q & A
- 12:30 p.m. — Lunch
- 1:15 p.m. — Breakout Sessions
- 1:15 – 1:45 p.m. — Session I (Donnally)
- The Community Perspective: Living Beyond Survival ~ 110B
- (Krishna Payne/Pfizer Patient Ambassador/Felice Thomas/Patient)
- 1:15 – 1:45 p.m. — Session II (Hood)
- Health Equity Through Public Health ~ MLK Auditorium
- (Allen, Womack, Gillespie)
- 2 – 2:30 p.m. — Session III (Donnally)
- Policy Advocacy & Systems Change ~ MLK Auditorium
- (Thomas, Allen, Payne, Womack and Hood)
- 2:30 p.m. — Summary (Thomas & Donnally)
- Q & A
- Evaluations
- 3 p.m. — Wrap up (Donnally)
