Our final #SCDHistoryHighlight of 2026 explores the life and career of Dr. Charles Drew, a pioneering physician whose work paved the way for our modern-day blood banking system. Thanks to his research, individuals with sickle cell disease have access to safe and timely blood transfusions.

Dr. Drew was born in 1904 in Washington, D.C. He was a talented athlete and earned a partial scholarship to Amherst College in Massachusetts, where he was one of the few African Americans on campus. After graduating, he taught biology and coached at Morgan College (now Morgan State University) before attending medical school at McGill University in Canada. During his residency at Montreal Hospital, he developed an interest in blood transfusions and their effectiveness in treating shock.

He began his medical career at Howard University, practicing as a faculty instructor for pathology and later taking an appointment at the Freedman’s Hospital as a surgeon. In 1940, he completed his postdoctoral studies at Columbia University and became the first African American to earn a Doctor of Science in Medicine degree.

His postdoctoral thesis, titled “Banked Blood: A Study on Blood Preservation,” determined how to process and preserve blood plasma — a strategy that increased the length of time that blood could be stored. This research was completed in time to be of great use during World War II, and Dr. Drew led efforts to collect, preserve and internationally ship approximately 14,500 liters of blood through the Blood for Britain campaign.

In 1941, Dr. Drew was appointed assistant director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank. During his time with the organization, he invented the “bloodmobile,” which allowed blood to be collected and transported on-the-go. Dr. Drew strongly objected to the blood bank segregating their blood storage and ultimately resigned from his position in protest of this racist policy.

Dr. Drew went on to rejoin faculty at Howard University, where he worked until he tragically passed away in a car accident at the age of 45. Dr. Drew’s research lay the foundation for safe and accessible blood transfusions, and his advocacy promoted equity in medicine — key elements of wellness for individuals with sickle cell disease across the globe.

This week, meet Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston, whose dedication and passion for health care led her to pave the way for equity. Dr. Gaston’s special focus on sickle cell disease helped shape our understanding of the condition and its management.

Born in 1939, Dr. Gaston’s family faced poverty and discrimination, but she knew by age nine that she wanted to become a physician. When she was a teenager, her mother became ill with what would later be diagnosed as cervical cancer. The family had no health insurance and faced other barriers to access, which meant Dr. Gaston’s mother was not properly treated. After witnessing her mother collapse in their living room due to the lack of care, Dr. Gaston resolved to overcome the odds and pursue a career in medicine.

Dr. Gaston earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Miami before enrolling in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where she was the only Black woman in her class. She became interested in sickle cell disease during her internship at Philadelphia General Hospital in 1964. According to Changing the Face of Medicine, “one evening, during her internship, Dr. Gaston admitted a baby with a badly swollen hand. No trauma was reported, and she could not find the cause of the swelling. Her supervising resident suggested she check the blood work for evidence of sickle cell disease. The child did have SCD, and his hand was swollen from infection. Gaston was appalled that she hadn’t even considered checking for this condition and set out to learn everything she could about it.”

Dr. Gaston dutifully began her studies of sickle cell disease, securing federal grants and establishing herself as a leading expert in the condition. In 1986, she published her landmark research on penicillin prophylaxis. Her national study determined that giving children with SCD preventative penicillin from birth reduced the complications of sickle cell disease. Her work indicated that newborn screening was key to identifying SCD early and treating it properly. Newborn screening now identifies many conditions beyond sickle cell and is standard practice in U.S. public health.

In addition to her groundbreaking work in the sickle cell space, Dr. Gaston spent many years as a medical expert with the National Institutes of Health and went on to become the director of the Bureau of Primary Health Care in the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. She was the first Black woman to direct a public health service bureau in the country. Her dedication to improving health care for poor and underserved families has left a lasting mark on history. Thank you, Dr. Gaston, for your commitment to our community.

Our next #SCDHistoryHighlight shines a light on the life and legacy of the “father of sickle cell disease” – Dr. Roland B. Scott. Dr. Scott’s groundbreaking research and dedication to patients during a time of intense discrimination paved the way for progress in SCD treatment.

Dr. Scott was born in 1909 and graduated with his medical degree from Howard University in 1934. He spent the majority of his career in the pediatrics department of Howard University. During this time, he began to notice the high number of African American children in the emergency room experiencing sickle cell symptoms and complications.

Dr. Scott was a trained allergist, but he switched his focus to help improve treatment for this misunderstood disease. A compassionate pediatrician, Dr. Scott held office hours in the evenings during which he would see African American children and families who were discriminated against and denied access to medical treatment.

Dr. Scott would go on to publish hundreds of articles on sickle cell disease during his time at Howard University. Although he did not specialize in hematology, in 1948 Dr. Scott published a paper on the sickling of red blood cells in newborns. This paper established a better understanding of sickle cell disease and laid the groundwork for newborn screening as we know it today.

In addition to being a dedicated researcher, Dr. Scott was a fierce advocate for sickle cell disease. His advocacy played a large role in the federal government’s passing of the Sickle Cell Anemia Control Act of 1971, which ensured nationwide funding for SCD research and treatment.

In 1972, Dr. Scott founded the Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease, which continues to conduct research and provide care to sickle cell patients today. He passed away in 2002. Dr. Scott’s work and advocacy changed the landscape for sickle cell disease, and we owe so much of our capability to treat and understand sickle cell to his efforts.