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Cece Calhoun, MD, MPHS, MBA

Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology)
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Additional Titles

Medical Director, Sickle Cell Program

About

Titles

Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology)

Medical Director, Sickle Cell Program

Biography

Dr. Cecelia Calhoun, MD, MPHS, MBA, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology) and (Hematology/Oncology) at Yale University School of Medicine, specializing in the care of individuals with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). She also serves as the Medical Director of the Adult Sickle Cell Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital.

Dr. Calhoun's research focuses on addressing educational and healthcare obstacles faced by adolescents with sickle cell disease, employing mixed methods to find effective solutions. Her career is dedicated to designing and implementing evidence-based interventions that support a successful transition from youth to adult care for individuals with sickle cell disease. As an NIH-funded investigator, she collaborates with hematology colleagues nationwide, utilizing Implementation Science methods to improve outcomes for patients with sickle cell disease across their lifespan.

Dr. Calhoun's expertise and dedication make her a respected figure in the field of hematology, particularly in the realm of sickle cell disease and health equity. Her commitment to improving outcomes for individuals with sickle cell disease underscores her valuable contributions to the academic and medical community.

Appointments

Education & Training

MBA
Yale University, School of Management (2021)
Clinical Research Training Institute
American Society of Hematology (2018)
Saunders-Watkins Leadership Workshop
National Institutes of Health (2018)
Advocacy Leadership Institute
American Society of Hematology (2018)
MPHS
Washington University in St Louis, Population Health Science (2017)
Clinical Fellow
Washington University School of Medicine (2017)
Pediatric Resident
Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners-Michigan State University (2014)
MD
Wayne State University, Medicine (2011)
BA
University of Michigan, Afro American Studies (2006)

Research

Overview

Medical Research Interests

Anemia, Sickle Cell; Hematology; Transition to Adult Care; Young Adult

Public Health Interests

Health Equity, Disparities, Social Determinants and Justice; Implementation Science

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Cece Calhoun's published research.

Publications

2024

2023

Clinical Trials

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    Inhaled Mometasone to Promote Reduction in Vaso-occlusive Events 2 (IMPROVE2) Study DSMB

  • activity

    Neuro-Heme Consortium 2 (NHC2) Study DSMB

  • activity

    Journal of Clinical Medicine

  • activity

    JAMA Network Open

  • activity

    Blood Advances

Clinical Care

Overview

Cecelia Calhoun, MD, MBA, is a hematologist-oncologist who specializes in taking care of adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD).

SCD is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders in which red blood cells become hard and sticky. Among other problems, the cells can clog small blood vessels, leading to pain, infection, and stroke.

Dr. Calhoun says she was interested in a career in medicine from an early age and hoped to focus on health care disparities. When she came across her first patient with sickle cell disease—an 8-year-old girl who suffered a stroke—she knew this area of medicine was for her.

“It was baffling to me that this girl had a stroke. Strokes are something we should screen for in sickle cell patients and we can treat prophylactically,” says Dr. Calhoun.

Hematology, and specifically sickle cell disease, combined my love of science with working with my own community, explains Dr. Calhoun. “Because I treat adolescents and young adults, my patients could be my cousin or my brother or my sister,” she says. “It wasn’t just because I’m a nerd who loves science and thinks red blood cells are cool, but that I’m interested in health care inequities, racism, and discrimination. I realized this a field where I can make an impact.”

Dr. Calhoun went on to obtain a master’s in population health science. “It’s about translating the challenges we see in the clinic, where we can ask and answer questions systemically and apply solutions—not just for my patients but for patients I might not meet,” Dr. Calhoun says. “I’m passionate about health literacy and shared decision-making. I want to decrease the gap between when something is discovered and we know it works to actually getting it to patients.”

While the majority of her time is spent on clinical-based research, Dr. Calhoun says she treasures patient care. “I love the age group I work with. Young adults are hilarious and teach me so much. They are dynamic, energetic, innovative, and honest,” she says. “And they show real progress when you invest in them, believe in them, and stick with them.”

Dr. Calhoun says she always tells patients that her goal is to keep them healthy and safe. “I give them the skills they need to manage SCD themselves as they grow into adults. It’s not just disease-specific knowledge, but making good decisions all around,” she says. “For the population I work with, there can also be socioeconomic disparities. We serve as another member of their family, another community for them, which is a very precious space.”

Clinical Specialties

Sickle Cell Disease; Pediatric Hematology & Oncology; Hematology

Fact Sheets

Board Certifications

  • Pediatrics

    Certification Organization
    AB of Pediatrics
    Original Certification Date
    2017

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