On World Sickle Cell Day, a look at Memphis’ past, present and future research
Nurse Melody Jacobs (left) prepares sickle cell patient Tiera Manuel for an apheresis infusion on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at Regional One’s Diggs-Kraus Sickle Cell Center. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
The story of Memphis as a hub of sickle cell disease research began in 1929, when Dr. Lemuel W. Diggs encountered the disease within a week of arriving in Memphis to join the UTHSC faculty. The city still attracts researchers and clinicians from around the world.
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sickle cell Sickle Cell Disease Dr. Kenneth Ataga Ugochi Ogu UTHSC St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Lemuel Diggs World Sickle Cell Day University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing nursing Sara DayAisling Mäki
Aisling Mäki covers health care, banking and finance, technology and professions. After launching her career in news two decades ago, she worked in public relations for almost a decade before returning to journalism in 2022.
As a health care reporter, she’s collaborated with The Carter Center, earned awards from the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists and won a 2024 Tennessee Press Association first-place prize for her series on discrepancies in Shelby County life expectancy by ZIP code.
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