GLENDALE, CA, August 18, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — Cayenne Wellness Center proudly commemorates a significant milestone this September as it hosts the 20th Annual Sickle Cell Disease Educational Summit. The summit is scheduled for September 16 to 20, 2026, at the Marriott Long Beach Downtown in Long Beach, California, with Agios as the distinguished Ruby Level title sponsor.
Event Details:
Dates: September 16–20, 2026
Location: Long Beach, CA & Online
Theme: 20/20 Vision: Our Legacy Continues
Target Audience: Designed for healthcare professionals, educators, social workers, students, individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease, and members of the broader community.
Presented under the theme “20/20 Vision: Our Legacy Continues,” the five-day summit will bring together people living with sickle cell disease, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, advocates, community organizations, students, and industry partners for education, connection, wellness, and celebration.
The Summit exists because a Warrior and her nurse asked for something better. “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. What began as a phenomenal half-day gathering in Long Beach left our community wanting more, and Cayenne Wellness Center accepted that challenge. One day became two, two became three, and today our Summit spans four days of education, connection, science, advocacy, and hope. 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. We honor how far we have come, but we also recognize how far we still have to go. 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.”
— Dr. Carolyn Rowley, Executive Director and Founder, Cayenne Wellness Center
The milestone summit will explore both advances in sickle cell treatment and the everyday realities of living and thriving with the disease.
Summit Highlights
Wednesday, September 16 | Treatment, Research & the Physician Experience: Sessions will address FDA-approved and emerging disease-modifying therapies, red blood cell exchange, gene therapy, community-engaged research, and transformative therapies. The evening Physician Track will include pain management and “Real Talk, Real Pain: Perspectives from Physicians Living with Sickle Cell Disease.”
Thursday, September 17 | Wellness, Sickle Cell Trait & Reproductive Health: Attendees can explore acupuncture, acupressure, sound healing, reflexology, nutrition, sickle cell trait awareness, reproductive counseling, gene therapy, insurance, and communicating with healthcare providers and loved ones.
Friday, September 18 | Living and Thriving Across the Lifespan: Programming will cover transition, dating, marriage, careers, aging, caregiving, financial planning, women’s and men’s health, and vaccinations, followed by an Award Ceremony, Dinner, and Benefit Concert.
Saturday, September 19 | Mental Health, Technology & Storytelling: Sessions will explore mental health, trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, wellness, artificial intelligence in medicine and sickle cell care, storytelling, and “The Real Real: Down-Home Conversation on Life with Sickle Cell Disease.”
Sunday, September 20 | Scar Stories: The summit will conclude with a visit to Cayenne Wellness Center’s Scar Stories Exhibit, which offers an artistic and personal look at experiences related to sickle cell disease.
Throughout the summit, attendees will also have opportunities to visit vendors, exhibitors, and authors, access community resources, network, and participate in wellness and social activities.
Registration Is Now Open
Sickle cell warriors, families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, advocates, community organizations, and other interested attendees are invited to participate.
Register to attend:
https://cayennewellness.org/scd-educational-summit-2026/
Vendor & Exhibitor
Organizations and businesses interested in connecting with attendees are invited to reserve a vendor or exhibitor table. Opportunities are available for community organizations, healthcare organizations, authors, artists, businesses, educational institutions, and industry partners.
Reserve a vendor or exhibitor table:
https://tinyurl.com/SVENDOR2026
Cayenne Wellness Center and Children’s Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2000 and dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals living with sickle cell disease in California. The organization provides expert, unbiased, and comprehensive care while promoting education, advocacy, and awareness for healthcare providers, patients, and the wider community. With a strong grassroots network and a commitment to equity, Cayenne Wellness continues to be a trusted leader in advancing sickle cell support and resources.
Learn more and get involved at CayenneWellness.org.
Follow Cayenne Wellness Center on:
Facebook: facebook.com/CayenneWellness
Instagram: instagram.com/CayenneWellness
X (formerly Twitter): @CayenneWellness
YouTube: youtube.com/@CayenneWellness
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