Children born with sickle cell disease (SCD) will need to start treatment a few months after birth to help prevent serious complications. Because SCD affects every organ in the body, kids with the condition need ongoing preventive care. They also need specialized care from a pediatric hematologist (a doctor who focuses on blood disorders), as well as other types of specialists.
In our Pediatric Sickle Cell Program, our specialists provide comprehensive care for hundreds of pediatric patients and understand the specific needs of kids born with SCD. Our goal is to help children with SCD lead normal, healthy, carefree lives as much as possible.
We partner closely with other specialists, such as pediatric pulmonologists (lung doctors) to treat conditions related to SCD, such as asthma. We’ll work with you and your child to help find any complications as early as possible, so we can begin treatment early. We also work with you to advocate for your child to get the accommodations they need to stay healthy at school, whether it’s having a water bottle at their desk, having door-to-door transportation, or wearing a jacket in the classroom to stay warm. These accommodations can make a huge difference in the quality of life for a child with SCD.
As your child approaches adulthood, at around age 21, our Transitional Care Clinic can help your child transfer their care from our Pediatric Sickle Cell Program to our Adult Sickle Cell Program.
Contact Us
6th Floor
Yawkey Center 617.414.4841
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:30PM Tuesday, Thursday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Specialty Clinics
Sickle Cell Disease - Transitional Care
Sickle Cell Disease - Adult Clinic
Programs and Services
Pediatrics - Pain Clinic
Conditions We Treat
Patient Stories
Support Services
Preventive Food Pantry
The Food Pantry works to address nutrition-related illness and under-nutrition for our low-income patients. It fills the therapeutic gap by linking physicians and nutritionists to patients.
Patient Financial Assistance
Boston Medical Center (the "Hospital" or "BMC"), in partnership with its licensed Community Health Centers, will provide high quality, accessible, medically necessary services, without cost or at a reduced cost, to eligible patients.
The Teaching Kitchen
Come to the Teaching Kitchen for a FREE cooking class and learn how to make simple, cost-effective, and delicious recipes that will help you live a healthier life and/or manage your disease or condition!
Uber Ridership
Patients with WellSense Health Plan insurance have access to a free Uber ridership program between some neighborhood health centers and BMC. If you are scheduled for an appointment at BMC, please ask the front desk at your health center how to access a free Uber ride.
Rooftop Farm
Three stories above BMC's power plant thrives a 2,658 square foot farm with more than 30 crops. The farm not only provides fresh, local produce to our hospitalized patients, cafeterias, Teaching Kitchen, and Preventive Food Pantry, but is also part of BMC's commitment to going green. The farm reduces the hospital's carbon footprint, increases green space, and reduces energy use, including the energy required to transport food.
Our Team
Program Leadership
Amy E Sobota, MD, MPH
Hematologists
Caitlin M Neri, MD, MPH
Melisa Ruiz-Gutierrez, MD, PhD
Amy E Sobota, MD, MPH
Pulmonologist
Robyn T Cohen, MD, MPH
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