When she was two years old, Shanice was diagnosed with sickle cell disease, a painful disorder which caused her to miss out on the experiences most kids take for granted.

“I pretty much lived in the hospital during my entire childhood,” says Shanice.

As a young adult, Shanice became a patient of BCW Medical Director Dr. Josh Field and began receiving blood transfusions every four to six weeks.  These treatments eased her pain, allowed her to graduate high school and work part-time as she goes to nursing school.

“Now, I know how to better control my disease,” says Shanice.  “Thanks to these treatments, I can live a normal life.”

Versiti is home to world-renowned blood health innovators.

Versiti Blood Research Institute and Medical Sciences Institute are located on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus in Wauwatosa, Wisc. Their 40 investigators are internationally known blood health innovators whose work spans basic, translational and clinical research in a variety of areas, including: sickle cell disease, hemophilia, cellular therapy and many more.

Additionally, Versiti Comprehensive Center for Bleeding Disorders (CCBD) provides diagnosis and ongoing medical and supportive care for patients with disorders that affect bleeding and clotting. Physicians work closely with these patients and are able to take what they learn in the clinical setting to the lab, where they partner with basic researchers to develop innovative treatments.