Interview with Author, Dr. Cynthia Hall

Dr. Cynthia Hall is a distinguished pharmacist committed to sickle cell disease innovation. A rare disease, sickle cell impacts a vulnerable patient population. According to the CDC, approximately 100,000 Americans have Sickle Cell Disease. Occurring in 1 out of every 365 Black or African-American births and 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American births. The sickle-shaped hemoglobin cells cause severe pain, lead to potential organ damage, and can even cause death. Dr. Cynthia Hall has created an amazing & innovative way to reach people impacted by sickle cell disease. The Crescent City Chronicles is a comic book series Dr. Hall started to create in 2007, working over ten years on her comic book series, three have been published starting in 2019. Dr. Hall hopes to continue adding to the series and she plans to create a graphic novel based on the everyday heroes in the sickle cell community.

Dr. Hall began her journey, advocating for patients with sickle cell disease as a volunteer through The Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia (SCFG). Her volunteer work in 2005 led her to a deeper understanding of the sickle cell patient experience, her connection with the SCFG organization impacted the direction of her life’s path. Today, Dr. Hall is a published author and strong advocate for people living with sickle cell disease.

The sickle cell patient population is vulnerable and faces many obstacles in treatment. The opioid crisis in the USA has impacted the quality of life for patients that depend on opioids as part of their standard of care treatment. Dr. Hall states that prior to the opioid epidemic, patients had issues getting their prescription medications. The patients develop tolerance to these medications and may require large dosages of opioids. Doctors that are familiar with the disease are familiar with the medication treatment for the disease. However, the healthcare system is not created for the outlier patients that might require heavy doses of opioids, this is a major obstacle for sickle cell disease patients.

Sickle cell is a genetic disease that affects the shape of the hemoglobin cells because the shape is sickled the hemoglobin cells that transport oxygen throughout the body are damaged. Sickle cell disease is therefore a disease that impacts every organ. Comorbidities are of potential, and the risk of chronic comorbidities could be devastating, and possibly lead to a decreased lifespan. COVID19 increases risk within the Sickle Cell Community. Examples of potential COVID comorbidities are acute chest syndrome, leading to difficulty breathing and can lead to death. The sickle cell population is at high risk from the COVID19 virus. COVID19 has decimated community blood banks, a resource that many Sickle Cell patients rely on. Please take time to donate blood, your blood donation supports the sickle cell community.

The national program for newborn screening helps detect sickle cells in newborns. There are new treatments coming into fruition for sickle cell. Recent increases in research funding are leading to promising new innovations. Current Sickle Cell pharmaceutical treatments work to decrease the number of red blood cells that are sickling, in shape. The current drug mechanism of action is to decrease a certain percentage of red blood cells. In some circumstances, the drugs can be so successful a patient can present as not having the disease. Overall, drug treatment can create fewer consequences for the patient and fewer effects of the disease.

There are many successful ways in which Dr. Hall has helped the community and educated the sickle cell patient population.  The comic book series has been bought by community-based organizations and hospitals to distribute to the patients. The comics help reinforce patient behaviors. The patients read colorful artistic comic books that show the reader they need to eat nutritious food, get a flu shot, stay hydrated, and make sure to rest to decrease their stress levels.

Describing sickle cell patient care via comic book is a unique avenue. The creative ideas grew organically from Dr. Hall’s volunteering for SCFG. SCFG worked closely with an art school to produce T-shirts for a children’s sickle cell summer camp. Dr. Hall asked about sequential art, and an artist shared his comic book art. That was a light bulb moment for Dr. Hall. Working closely with the art school Dr. Hall was matched with art students interested in participating in a superhero comic book project. Dr. Hall was then matched with a talented student. The art student contributed art on part one and part two before he graduated from art school. The same student went to work for DC Comics and Marvel. The creation was started by the right people coming together at the right time.

Dr. Hall’s writing focused on the language of the community and the children who may be reading her comics. The comics focus on everyday people from the sickle cell community, who are the super superheroes in the stories. One comic encourages sickle cell patients to go to their community pharmacy and get a flu shot. The background story revolves around a girl in high school who wants to be in the winter play, but she's also worried about her health. Her friends encourage her to get the flu shot as a wellness measure so she can fully participate in the winter play. The pharmacist is the superhero, Dr. Yolanda Landry. Dr. Hall was able to create a fun real-world connection in the book series. The community is located in New Orleans, which is also called the Crescent City… hence the title of her series, The Cresent City Chronicles.

Dr. Hall has shared some resources for learning more about Sickle Cell Disease; follow James G. Taylor, MD Director, Center of Sickle Cell Disease at Howard University, Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, NIH Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion offers research and support for African Americans in biomedical research, FDA’s Statement on Diversity in Clinical Trials, and to connect with Dr. Hall through LinkedIn; Cynthia Renee Hall, PharmD, JD, MS. To listen to our ClubHouse conversation click here.