In 2021 we held three miniSeminars series: The Brain and SCD, Sleep and SCD, and Mental Health and SCD. In 2022, we will hold three more miniSeminars series, each with three miniSeminar sessions for a total of 9 sessions. These miniSeminars were developed because the sickle cell community wanted us to add a third or even fourth day to our Annual SCD Educational Summit. Given that we cannot go beyond three days, the opportunity presented itself for us to offer more in depth learning experiences on particular topics. These miniSeminars are one of our most popular educational opportunities for the sickle cell community.
Moderator
Shirley Powell
In 1956, Shirley Powell was born with a potentially life-threatening hereditary condition: sickle cell disease. For 33 years, she suffered tremendously with debilitating and painful crises, secondary illnesses, dozens and dozens of hospitalizations, and various surgeries. She also previously suffered from hypothyroidism, eczema, and irritable bowel syndrome. In spite of the devastation of the disease and other limitations she faced due to the disadvantageous socioeconomic conditions of her upbringing, she excelled scholastically and was a child entrepreneur. She received a scholarship to attend college and chose to attend Strayer College in Washington, D.C., graduating cum laude with a degree in court and conference reporting. She excelled in her 23-year reporting career, and for the last 12 years in that profession, from 1990 to 2001, she was the owner of one of the largest African- American owned court and conference reporting companies in the country. Her entrepreneurial spirit thrived over the years. She also became a REALTOR®, affiliated with the third largest real estate company in the country. In 2001, she co-founded and was the executive director of alternative medicine practice.
Speakers
Dr. Marjorie Dejoie Brewer
She owns MAD Fit, a medical consulting and Wellness & Health business, and currently holds the position of Medical Director of hemoglobinopathies in Global Medical Affairs and Global Strategist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Medical Director for the Sickle Cell Association of Delaware. She serves as Co-Chair of the Mental Health and Wellness initiative for the Sickle Cell Consortium, a medical consultant to SCDAA National, an ambassador to SICK cells and group leader for Meditation for Leadership. Prior to that she held the position of Director of Patient Advocacy for Global Product Development in Rare Disease at Pfizer and Clinical Research Outreach Liaison for Hydroxyurea and Transition at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Her groundbreaking work as a primary medical consultant for the Mayor’s “Fun, Fit, and Free” program, a key part of the Mayor’s Commission for Health, Fitness and inclusion, allowed her to apply her training in medicine, exercise physiology, and alternative medicine in an integrative, community based, preventative format with the primary goal of making Philadelphia a healthier city. From there, she molded a career in Functional Medicine, which utilizes a fusion of the principles of medicine, prescribed exercise, bio-psychosocial elements, stress reduction, nutrition, yoga and alternative medicine in the holistic treatment and care of patients with rare diseases and clients. Herself a patient of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), Dr. Dejoie is a firm proponent and practitioner of comprehensive and preventative health and wellness planning. This became the mission behind her consulting firm “M.A.D. fit” established in 2002. Building on this foundation, Dr. Dejoie opened a wellness center, “Bonne Santé” in the fall of 2003, dedicating herself to making this world a better place by making it healthier, one person at a time.
Skye Angel
Skye Angel is a clairsentient lightworker whose mission is to facilitate spiritual growth in her community. She believes in the importance of giving back with the tools that have helped her in this life and past lives. She leads all healing sessions with love & light helping others to release non-serving energies and embrace the divine within. Skye is a certified reiki master, breathwork coach, thai massage, sound healer, and 200 hour registered yoga teacher.
Somer Waters
Somer has been practicing as a sound healer for 20 years as a cellist, and breathwork facilitator for the last 3 years. Somer brings his group facilitation training and contracting background to help create the “safe vessel” of the healing space for clients. An active facilitator Somer is also behind the scenes, and on the front end in client relations.
