Our Sickle Cell Medical Team

Our Sickle Cell Disease Center of Excellence team of healthcare professionals is dedicated to providing quality care for children and adults with sickle cell disease. Our mission is to provide a medical home setting, the best available medical care, and educational support and research for all children, adults, and  families whose lives are affected by sickle cell disease.

Michael R. DeBaun, M.D. MPH
Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Director, Center of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease

Adetola Kassim, M.D., M.S.
Hematologist/Oncologist
Clinical director, Sickle Cell Anemia Program
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Associate Director, Center of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease

Robin Jacob, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Director of the Meharry Sickle Cell Center

Valencia Bryant, CRT
Pulmonary Diagnostic Coordinator
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

Brittany Covert, MPH
Clinical Trials Manager
Vanderbilt University

Jeannie Byrd, R.N., MSN
Pediatric Sickle Cell/Benign Hematology Case Manager
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt 

Jenny Beck-Smith, BSB/PJ
Program Manager
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

Karina Wilkerson, FNP-C, MSN-ED
Adult Nurse Practitioner
Vanderbilt University

Djamila Labib Ghafuri, M.Sc. Med
Sr. Clinical Trials Specialist
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt  

Emmanuel Volanakis, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

Robert Cronin, M.D., M.A.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine 
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Shaina Johnson, M.D.
Pediatric Hematology Oncology Fellow
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Mustafa Nateqi, MBA
Administrative Officer
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Michael Jackson, CCHW
Program Coordinator
Sickle Cell Foundation of Tennessee

Casey Babb, M.S.
Clinical Trials Specialist
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

Deva Sharma, M.D.
Pediatric Hematology Oncology Fellow
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Jodi-Ann Stewart, B.S.
Medical Student and Doris Duke Scholar