Kevin Wake 

Kevin and his two brothers all have lived with sickle cell disease. He has a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from the University of Kansas and worked in pharmaceutical sales and management for 23 years before taking an early retirement due to health complications from his sickle cell. Since 2016, he received his master’s degree in Healthcare Informatics from Walden University and a Community Health Worker certification from the SCDAA. Kevin is currently the President of the Uriel E. Owens Sickle Cell Disease Association of the Midwest, a CBO in Kansas City, KS. He is involved with advocacy through the Rare Disease Legislative Advocates, is chairman of University Health’s Patient Family Advisory Council and has worked on the National Health Council’s Value Initiative Work Group. Kevin tries his best to model his belief that sickle cell is a diagnosis but not a definition of who you are and what you can do.