Cayenne Wellness Center is set to host its 20th Annual Sickle Cell Disease Educational Summit from September 16 to 20, 2026, at the Marriott Long Beach Downtown in Long Beach, California, with Agios as the Ruby Level title sponsor. Themed "20/20 Vision: Our Legacy Continues," the five-day event will convene patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and advocates to celebrate progress and chart the path forward in sickle cell disease (SCD) care.
Dr. Carolyn Rowley, Executive Director and Founder of Cayenne Wellness Center, reflected on 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." Rowley noted the evolution from a half-day gathering to a four-day comprehensive program, emphasizing the significance of the milestone: "One hundred and sixteen years after Dr. James B. Herrick first described sickle-shaped cells, 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 summit's agenda is designed to address both cutting-edge medical advances and the holistic needs of the SCD community. Wednesday's sessions will focus on treatment and research, including FDA-approved and emerging therapies, red blood cell exchange, gene therapy, and community-engaged research. An evening physician track will feature "Real Talk, Real Pain: Perspectives from Physicians Living with Sickle Cell Disease." Thursday will explore wellness modalities such as acupuncture, sound healing, and nutrition, alongside sessions on sickle cell trait, reproductive counseling, and insurance. Friday's programming will cover life transitions, dating, career, aging, and financial planning, culminating in an award ceremony, dinner, and benefit concert. Saturday will delve into mental health, trauma, and the role of artificial intelligence in SCD care, while Sunday will conclude with the Scar Stories Exhibit, an artistic portrayal of patient experiences.
Registration is now open for warriors, families, caregivers, and professionals at cayennewellness.org. Vendor and exhibitor opportunities are also available via tinyurl.com/SVENDOR2026. Cayenne Wellness Center and Children's Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2000, continues to lead in providing education, advocacy, and support for the SCD community in California and beyond.
