Professor Deepika Darbari

Dr. Darbari is a hematologist with focus on sickle cell disease (SCD). Her work is directed towards better understanding of pain and its management using pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic integrative modalities in individuals living with SCD. Her research has contributed to improved understanding of variability of pain experience and risk factors for high burden of pain including the changes in brain connectivity and volume associated with pain in patients with SCD. She has contributed to development of diagnostic criteria for acute and chronic pain in SCD with the American Pain Society and more recently development of PhenX Toolkit for standardizing pain outcomes for SCD with National Institutes of Health. She is committed to mentoring future physicians, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Her efforts have been recognized by the ASH Honorific Award for Leadership in Promoting Diversity and Howard University Roland B. Scott Lifetime Achievement Award for Advocacy, Education and Research in SCD.