HANOVER, Md. — The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Inc., a national nonprofit membership organization that advocates for people affected by sickle cell disease, promoted Kevin Amado Jr. to senior community impact and education manager. Amado joined the association in 2020 and brings 20 years of experience as a health educator, case manager, community health worker and certified health insurance navigator.

As senior community impact and education manager, Amado develops and implements community health worker training programs and identifies community resources for health workers, organizations and members of the sickle cell community. In addition, he coordinates Sickle Cell Disease Association of America programs and efforts in communities nationwide.

Prior to joining the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Amado served as a case manager for Health Care Access Maryland’s Certified Navigator Connector Program. He was a community health worker with Healthy Howard and a senior health education specialist with the Virginia Department of Health. He has held other social services positions in Maryland and Virginia.

Amado holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore and a Bachelor of Science in community health education from Morgan State University. He lives in Baltimore.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disease causing red blood cells to take a sickle shape, which leads to blockages that prevent blood from reaching parts of the body. As a result, people with sickle cell complications can experience anemia, jaundice, gallstones, stroke, chronic pain, organ damage and premature death. No universal cure exists.

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Inc. advocates for people affected by sickle cell conditions and empowers community-based organizations to maximize quality of life and raise public consciousness while advancing the search for a universal cure. The association and more than 50 member organizations support sickle cell research, public and professional health education and patient and community services.(www.sicklecelldisease.org)

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