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Staff

Sonja L. Banks

President/Chief Operating Officer

sbanks@sicklecelldisease.org

Sonja L. Banks is the newly elected President and Chief Operating Officer for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. She is primarily responsible for the administrative activities of the organization which serves over fifty-five sickle cell community based organizations throughout the United States.

Ms. Banks is an accomplished management professional with over 17 years of executive level experience and an established background in nonprofit leadership and operations. Prior to her current position, Ms. Banks served at St. Vincent's Health System in Birmingham, Alabama. While at St. Vincent’s Health System, she served as Director of Community Services, Outreach and Adult Indigent Services. Her previous professional experience also includes leadership roles within the United Negro College Fund, United Way of Central Alabama and City of Birmingham.

Ms. Banks' academic credentials include a Bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and a Master's Degree in Public Administration and Business. In addition, she is presently pursuing her doctorate of education in Organization Leadership & Nonprofit Management.

She has and continues to serve on a number of boards and has been recognized which such honors as "Outstanding Service", Ebony’s 30 Leaders under 30, Coca Cola Women Who Care Award and Birmingham Who’s Who to name a few.

Ms. Banks enjoys writing, performing arts, public speaking and working with youth.

"I am delighted for the opportunity to deliver my professional knowledge and experiences to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and build upon its decades of meaningful work and success. My immediate focus will be to vigorously advance and further develop the strategic direction of SCDAA while remaining keenly focused on patient care, service delivery, education, research, funding and core legislative goals."

Francis Aofolaju

Chief Financial Officer

faofolaju@sicklecelldisease.org

Natasha Thomas

Member Services & Outreach Manager 

nthomas@sicklecelldisease.net

Tatia Alford

Accounting Assistant

talford@sicklecelldisease.org

James C. Durrah, II

Communications Assistant

jdurrah@sicklecelldisease.org

Administrative Clerk

scdaa@sicklecelldisease.org