Executive Board of SCDAM

M. Osita Nwaneri, MD - Chairperson
Rev Denise Dunbar-Perkins – Vice Chairperson
Doris Rountree – Secretary
Martin Uko – Treasurer
Rae Blaylark – Assistant Secretary
M. Obinna Nwaneri, MD – Member and Immediate Past Chairperson

The Sickle Cell Disease Advocates of Minnesota (SCDAM) is a volunteer-based non-profit organization that is led by a highly committed, passionate board of directors.

Dr. M. Osita Nwaneri is the Interim Chairperson of SCDAM as the organization transitions to a new leadership. Dr Nwaneri has had extensive research experience with sickle cell disease; having done sickle cell research at Childrens Hospital, Minneapolis, MN; Ibadan, Nigeria; Ghana and Liverpool, United Kingdom. He is currently a Pediatric Resident doctor at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

Rev. Denise Dunbar-Perkins, she is the current Vice Chairperson and works at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN and has been intergral in improving the care of adult sickle cell patients. She is looking at ways to enhance psychosocial support for persons with Sickle Cell Disease and their families.

Doris Rountree is the secretary of the SCDAM Board; and works to identify resources in the community for the sickle cell patients, families of patients and people involved in their overall care. She has been instrumental in helping with smooth transition of adult patients. Doris was elected to the position of Vice Chairperson on May 31, 2008.

Martin Uko serves as the treasurer of the SCDAM Board. He is a founding member of the board and has been active since the very beginning. Martin became involved because he wanted to expand his knowledge of Sickle Cell Disease for his daughter who is living with SCD.

Raenelle Blaylark serves as assistant secretary of the SCDAM Board. She joined the board after attending the Sickle Cell stamp unveiling in September 2004. She is the mother of a young boy living with Sickle Cell Disease.

Dr. M. Obinna Nwaneri was the immediate past Chairperson of the SCDAM Board until Feb 2008. Dr. Nwaneri is an adult hematologist/medical oncologist who has been treating patients with Sickle Cell Disease for several years. He brings a wealth of clinical and practical knowledge to SCDAM and is eager to improve the health care system to better care for patients with SCD in the state of Minnesota and beyond. Dr Nwaneri remains actively involved in the issues affecting sickle cell patients and their families. He recently moved to UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dalllas, Texas to serve as the Medical Director, Clinical Cancer Research at Parkland; and continues to serve on the SCDAM Board as it grows and transitions to a new leadership.