Strengthening Community-Academic Partnerships to Enhance Care for Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects approximately 100,000 Americans, predominantly those of African descent, yet care coordination between academic medical centers and community organizations remains limited. To identify strategies for strengthening community-academic partnerships to enhance care delivery for children with SCD through focus groups with community partners in a midwestern metropolitan area. Using qualitative descriptive methodology, we conducted two focus groups and three individual interviews with 12 community partners, including health care providers and advocates. Thematic analysis revealed three key findings: persistent multi-level knowledge gaps about SCD, the importance of strategic partnerships between health care organizations and community groups, and specific community-identified solutions for sustainable collaboration. Results highlighted how structured partnerships between academic institutions and community organizations can address systemic barriers in SCD care delivery through knowledge sharing, resource access, and coordinated screening protocols, informing practical strategies for implementing sustainable improvements in care coordination.