Less Stress, Better Care: Prepare for Tests, Procedures and Results
Presenter
Colin Kloock, MD
Tufts Medicine
Sickle Cell Disease sessions
Free, live conversations for people living with sickle cell disease, their families and the people caring for them.
13 upcoming137 past
Next session
Less Stress, Better Care: Prepare for Tests, Procedures and Results
· 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET · Colin Kloock, MD
Upcoming sessions
November 2026
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET Tests, procedures, and waiting for results can bring stress and uncertainty. Learn practical ways to prepare, know what questions to ask, keep important information organized, and understand what to expect before and after. Gain simple strategies to reduce stress, communicate with your care team, and feel more prepared and confident throughout the process. 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET Hydroxyurea Unpacked: Benefits, Fears and Facts
Presenter
Russell Ware, MD, PhD
Cincinnati Children's
In this session you will learn practical ways to prepare for appointments, share pain and concerns clearly, ask for what you need, and work with your care team while protecting your energy, so you and your care partner can feel more heard, organized, and confident in future visits. 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET When Fear Takes Over: Calming Anxiety About Your Health and Future
Presenter
Akanksha Srivastav, MSW, BSW, LICSW
Tufts Medicine
Worries about your health, treatment, and future can sometimes feel overwhelming. Join us to learn practical ways to calm anxious thoughts, cope with uncertainty, and manage fear when it takes over. Gain simple tools to feel more grounded, regain a sense of control, and protect your emotional well-being throughout your care journey. 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET After a New Diagnosis: The Most Important Steps to Take Next
Presenters
Latoya Marshall, MPH, CCRP
Tufts Medicine
Jill Marshall, MSN, CCRP
Tufts Medicine
A new diagnosis can leave you wondering what to do first and where to turn for help. Join us to learn practical next steps, from understanding your diagnosis and preparing questions to organizing medical information and building the right care team. Gain tools to help you feel more prepared, informed, and confident as you move forward with your care. 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET Family Stress: When Everyone Experiences the Disease Differently
Presenter
Khrystal M. Dupre-Myles, DBH, LMSW, CSW
Vanderbilt Health
Explore how sickle cell disease can affect each family member differently, and learn gentle ways to name stress, reduce blame, improve conversations, support siblings and care partners, and build shared coping plans that help everyone feel heard, respected, and less alone at home, during care decisions, and in difficult moments as a whole family. 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET Sadness, Anger and Fear: Coping With the Emotions of Illness
Presenter
Hamide Eygoren, MAPP
Sadness, anger, and fear are natural responses to living with illness, not emotions you need to fix or hide. Join us to explore what these feelings may be telling you and learn simple, research-based tools to move through difficult emotions without feeling overwhelmed. Build resilience while making space for your emotional experience. 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET Understand Your Test Results: What They Mean and What to Ask Next
Presenters
Colin Kloock, MD
Tufts Medicine
David Drew, MD
Tufts Medicine
Test results can be confusing, especially when you’re unsure what the numbers and medical terms mean for your health. Join us to learn how to review your results, identify important changes, and prepare the right questions for your care team. Gain practical strategies to better understand your results and feel more confident discussing your next steps. 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET Navigating the Holidays While Living with a Rare or Chronic Illness
Presenter
Krystal Griffin, MS CMHC
Thanksgiving can bring family, traditions, travel, and special meals, but it can also bring stress, fatigue, and pressure to keep up. Join us to prepare for the holiday by learning how to protect your energy, set boundaries, manage expectations, and stay connected while caring for your health and well-being. 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET Your Voice in Your Care: Sharing Your Priorities and Wishes
Presenter
Patrick Gould, MD, MBE
Memorial Sloan Kettering
What matters most to you when facing a serious illness? Learn how to share your values, everyday priorities and wishes for future care with your healthcare team so those conversations reflect who you are and what you want.
December 2026
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET When Life Hurts: Stress, Mood and the Sickle Cell Pain Cycle
Presenter
Anya Griffin, PhD
Living with sickle cell disease can take an emotional toll, and stress, anxiety, and low mood can make pain harder to manage. Join us to explore how emotions, sleep, and pain are connected, recognize when you may need extra support, and learn practical coping strategies to support your mental well-being and overall pain management. 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET Aging Well with SCD: What’s Different and How to Protect Independence
Presenter
Charity Oyedeji, MD, MHS
Aging with sickle cell disease can bring changes beyond pain, affecting energy, strength, memory, and everyday activities. Join us to learn which changes to watch for, when to seek medical advice, and how preventive care, personalized activity, and support from your healthcare team can help you maintain your independence and quality of life. 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET Stroke in SCD: What You See, What You Don’t and What You Can Do
Presenter
John J. Strouse, MD, PhD
Stroke is a serious complication of sickle cell disease, and its effects aren't always easy to recognize. Learn to identify stroke warning signs in children and adults, understand how silent and overt strokes can affect memory, learning, movement, and daily life, and explore screening and prevention strategies to help reduce the risk of a first or recurrent stroke.