Every year, more than 100,000 Americans live with Sickle Cell Disease. SCD is an inherited blood disorder that disproportionately affects African Americans and often brings excruciating pain, unpredictable crises, and lifelong health challenges. In Texas, nearly 85% of all SCD cases are found in Black families, making this one of the most pressing and too often overlooked public health issues.
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PVAMU has taken bold action by launching the Student Sickle Cell Warrior Project, a pioneering initiative that places the University among the first in the nation to formally address SCD within a higher education setting. The program recognizes that students managing SCD need more than compassion; they need coordinated care, advocacy, and a campus culture that makes academic success possible.
The Student Sickle Cell Warrior Project identifies PVAMU students living with SCD through the University's Owens Franklin Health Center and connects them directly to specialized care via partnerships with Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, and UT Houston. Students also receive wrap-around services from the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation, extending support beyond medical treatment into community and wellness resources.
Why It Matters
— For Students withSCD:Immediate, direct links to expert care, support during crises, and a campus committed to reducing barriers that can derail education.
— For Faculty and Staff: Greater awareness and the tools to support students whose health needs may affect coursework, attendance, or deadlines.
— ForPVAMU: A bold leadership stance that makes the University a model for addressing chronic health conditions within higher education, especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
“This is a great opportunity for Prairie View to help establish a model of support for college students nationwide who have been diagnosed with sickle cell disease,” said Dr. Tondra L. Moore, executive director of Health Services at PVAMU. “We're not just responding to a health condition, we are setting a standard of care and advocacy that matches the resilience of our students.”
The pilot program is designed not only to improve immediate health outcomes by reducing emergency hospital visits and easing the daily burdens of SCD but also to strengthen retention and graduation rates for students living with chronic illness. By combining healthcare partnerships, campus support, and awareness campaigns, PVAMU aims to transform how colleges nationwide understand and respond to Sickle Cell Disease.
Media Contacts:Liz Faublas-Wallace, Communications Specialist III936-261-1562 | lswallace@pvamu.edu
Candace Johnson, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications936-261-1566 | cajohnson@pvamu.edu
Office for Marketing and Communications936-261-1560 | pvamu.edu/marcomm
PRAIRIEVIEWA&MUNIVERSITY, founded in 1876, is the second oldest public institution of higher education in the state of Texas and the third largest Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in the nation. Designated as an “institution of the first class” in the Texas Constitution, the enrollment exceeds 10,000 students and over 80,000 graduates. PVAMU offers academic programs through its ten colleges and schools, boasting degree options leading to bachelor's to doctoral-level degrees. A Carnegie-classified high-research (R2) University and a member of The Texas A&M University System, PVAMU is dedicated to fulfilling its land-grant mission of achieving excellence in teaching, research and service. For more information, visitwww.pvamu.edu.
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SOURCE PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY
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