Overview

Sickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited blood disorder, affects one in 350 African-Americans. The disease inhibits blood flow due to the sickling of blood cells, which causes pain, fever, strokes, even death.

The Diggs-Kraus Sickle Cell Center at The Regional Medical Center at Memphis (THE MED) has cared for more than 51,000 patients. Medical procedures developed here have been adopted nationwide. Dr. Patricia Adams-Graves is Medical Director.

In its 77-year history, the mission of the Diggs-Kraus Sickle Cell Center (SCC) has been to provide primary outpatient medical care to SCD patients in a holistic way that is sensitive to the pressures that this catastrophic disease brings to bear on patients and their families. It is expected that visits to the SCC will nearly double over the next decade due to the extended life expectancy of SCD patients from much improved pediatric care. For more information about how you can get involved in local efforts to find a cure for sickle cell disease, call Vanessa Steele at (901) 545-8535.

What Is Sickle Cell Disease?

Different Forms of Sickle Cell

77 Years of Discovery and Treatment Innovation

Blood Donation

Approach to Treatment

For more information about the Diggs-Kraus Sickle Cell Center, call (901) 545-8535.

Medical Director: Dr. Patricia Adams-Graves