Welcome to the London & Southwestern Ontario Sickle Cell Community Hub
A place where individuals and families living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) can connect, access support, and engage with the community. We invite partners to join us in raising awareness and strengthening care across the region.
However you say it — you belong here
The word “Welcome” in multiple languages, representing inclusivity and the diverse community we serve across London and Southwestern Ontario.
Two ways to engage with the hub
Whether you or someone you love is living with SCD, or you're a healthcare provider, clinician, or community partner — choose the pathway built for you below.
Support built around you
From clinical care at Victoria Hospital to peer support, education, and advocacy — here's everything available to individuals and families living with SCD in London & Southwestern Ontario. The sections below cover Care & Treatment, Peer & Community Support, Education, Get Involved, Research, and Advocacy — expand any section below to dive in.
Access local care, connection, and support
Access local clinical care, advocacy, support networks, educational resources, research opportunities, and ways to get involved in community initiatives. Connect with peers, build friendships, get creative, and find social support — we're here to help with any questions or concerns for yourself or someone you support with SCD.
Upcoming Events
Real, confirmed events happening soon for the London & Southwestern Ontario SCD community.
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Care & Treatment
London Health Sciences Hemoglobinopathy Program — Victoria Hospital
For sickle cell health needs in London and Southwestern Ontario, individuals and families can contact the hospital directly, or SCAGO can help connect you with local care providers and support you in navigating available services in the region.
Comprehensive care for SCD includes:
- Retrieval and follow-up of positive newborn screening results
- Complete outpatient medical care focused on preventing illness and treating existing conditions
- Chronic transfusion support, including exchange transfusion therapy and iron overload management
- Adult and pediatric stem cell transplants, in close collaboration with SickKids in Toronto
- Regional collaboration with Windsor Regional Hospital
Contact & referral: Phone 519-685-8500 ext. 57219 · Email HBProgram@lhsc.on.ca
Victoria Hospital, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON N6A 5W9
Website: LHSC Lifespan Hemoglobinopathy Program (opens in new tab)
Need help connecting with care or navigating services in the region?
Peer & Community Support
Peer support groups, community connections, and psychosocial supports are available through SCAGO's London chapter and within the wider London and Southwestern Ontario community. Join local programs to meet others, reduce isolation, and receive guidance from experienced regional coordinators.
Programs include cooking & nutrition peer sessions, community education partnerships, and informal meetups — see Upcoming Events for the next confirmed date, or contact us and we'll let you know what's coming up.
Explore: Find Mental Health Support Near You (opens in new tab) · Find Local Community Services (opens in new tab)
Want to join a peer support session or partner with us?
Education & Learning for Life
SCAGO's London Chapter offers relevant educational events to support individuals living with SCD and their caregivers. A past educational blood drive at Western University brought participants together with healthcare professionals and people with lived experience to learn about blood donation and sickle cell disease.
On September 26, 2026, we will host a Learning for Life session focused on transition support — from pediatric to adult care, and from secondary to post-secondary education. Details on topics and speakers will be shared closer to the event. See Upcoming Events for the countdown.
Ways to participate:
- Attend Learning for Life sessions and other educational events in London
- Share your lived experience during educational discussions to help inform learning
- Suggest topics or questions for future education sessions
Questions about Education or the September session?
Get Involved & Collaborate
Collaboration with community members, partners, and organizations helps strengthen support for individuals and families living with SCD across London and Southwestern Ontario. By working together, we can raise awareness, share knowledge, and help shape programs and initiatives that reflect the needs of our regional SCD community.
Regional awareness efforts — including activities connected to Sickle Cell Awareness Day (June 19) — create opportunities for individuals living with SCD, their families, healthcare partners, and community allies to come together and contribute to a stronger understanding of SCD across our region.
Young people can also get involved through SCAGO's Youth Empowerment Program, where youth can lead their own initiatives with funding of up to $5,000. Learn more about the Youth Empowerment Program (opens in new tab).
Want to be part of SCD community initiatives?
Research Close to Home
Research plays an important role in improving care and expanding treatment options for people living with SCD. This section highlights research developments and clinical advancements relevant to individuals and families in London and Southwestern Ontario — particularly where emerging knowledge may influence local care pathways, treatment access, or future services.
What's happening in London & Southwestern Ontario
Expanded stem cell transplant availability at LHSC: London Health Sciences Centre's Blood and Marrow Transplant Program now offers allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplants for adults living with SCD — something that historically required travel elsewhere. Read the article (opens in new tab)
Hospital Experience Reporting Portal: Share your healthcare experiences to help identify patterns in care and inform local and provincial improvement initiatives. Visit the portal (opens in new tab)
Want to be part of SCD research initiatives?
Advocacy & Your Rights
Our Advocacy program supports individuals and families living with SCD in London & Southwestern Ontario to access care, resources, and services, and to ensure their voices are heard. We help families navigate hospitals, clinics, schools, and community programs, providing guidance on patient rights, care planning, and connecting with the right support.
- Healthcare Navigation: Assistance with appointments, referrals, and understanding care plans
- Patient & Family Support: Guidance communicating with providers, schools, and workplaces about SCD needs
- Access & Equity Support: Help accessing funding, accommodations, or programs, and system-level advocacy
- Psychosocial Support: Emotional and mental health support, coping strategies, and daily living resources
- Crisis & Urgent Advocacy: Support for hospitalization planning, treatment access, or urgent barriers
- Share Your Lived Experience: Participate in events or feedback sessions to help inform programs
Partner with us to strengthen care
For healthcare providers, clinicians, community partners, and volunteers — here's how to collaborate with SCAGO, access professional development, and help shape better systems of care across the region. The sections below cover Clinical Collaboration, Community Partnership, Professional Development, Co-Design & Systems Improvement, Research Partnerships, and Policy & Systems Advocacy.
This pathway is for healthcare providers, clinicians, community partners, and volunteers who work with or may encounter people living with SCD, or who want to create or access opportunities to support the SCD community in London and Southwestern Ontario. Explore resources, professional development, collaboration pathways, research updates, and meaningful ways to get involved.
Clinical Collaboration
Collaborate with SCAGO & London Health Sciences Centre
Strengthen coordinated systems of care for individuals living with SCD by linking regional clinical services, community support, and partnerships.
The LHSC Lifespan Hemoglobinopathy Program (opens in new tab) provides specialized care including:
- Follow-up for positive newborn screening results
- Comprehensive outpatient care focused on prevention and treatment
- Chronic transfusion support, including exchange transfusions, and iron overload management
- Pediatric stem cell transplants in collaboration with SickKids; select adult transplants
- Regional coordination with Windsor Regional Hospital
How to Engage & Collaborate
- Strengthen referral and communication pathways
- Coordinate care across hospital and community settings
- Engage SCAGO to support navigation and patient experience
- Participate in shared learning initiatives that improve continuity of care
Why It Matters
- Ensures people living with SCD receive timely, coordinated care that can prevent complications and save lives.
- Strengthens continuity, so patients experience care that is seamless, reliable, and centered on their needs.
- Empowers healthcare teams and community partners to work together to improve outcomes and quality of life.
Interested in collaborating with SCAGO and LHSC?
Community Partnership
Build strong community partnerships to enhance support networks for individuals and families living with SCD.
Opportunities for Collaboration
- Awareness & Mobilization: Partner on Sickle Cell Awareness Day initiatives, blood drives, and public education events
- Peer & Family Support: Offer meeting space, host sessions, or provide resources and expertise for SCAGO Peer Support Groups
- Shared Community Leadership: Join advisory groups or working circles bridging healthcare systems and community networks
Why It Matters
- Creates safe, empowering spaces where individuals and families can connect, share, and find support.
- Amplifies the power of community to remove barriers, increase access, and foster belonging.
- Builds bridges between healthcare and community, ensuring people with SCD aren't navigating challenges alone.
Want to partner on community support and engagement?
Professional Development
Expand knowledge, cultural responsiveness, and system awareness to improve care quality and reduce inequities affecting individuals with SCD.
Opportunities for Learning
- Learning for Life Sessions: Participate in SCAGO's educational series and share knowledge with colleagues
- Professional Development: Access provider-focused training, invite SCAGO to speak, or co-host workshops
- Youth & Community Education: Partner on school and community outreach to raise awareness and system literacy
Why It Matters
- Expands understanding across healthcare and community partners, fostering care that is culturally responsive, equitable, and informed.
- Equips professionals and volunteers to make informed decisions and provide meaningful support.
- Strengthens collective knowledge, creating a more capable, compassionate system for people living with SCD.
Want to co-host an education session?
Co-Design & Systems Improvement
Work with SCAGO and regional partners to improve systems of care, ensure services meet real needs, and create lasting changes for people living with SCD.
Opportunities for Collaboration
- Co-Design & Innovation: Develop programs guided by lived experience, community insight, and clinical expertise
- Systems Improvement: Engage in regional planning and cross-sector initiatives to strengthen coordination and reduce duplication
Why It Matters
- Ensures community voices and clinical perspectives shape services and policies.
- Supports lasting, sustainable improvements across care systems.
- Turns collaboration into real-world impact for people living with SCD.
Interested in co-designing solutions with SCAGO?
Research Partnerships
Support evidence-informed care and community-informed research that advances outcomes for individuals living with SCD.
Opportunities for Engagement
- Research Partnerships: Support SCAGO-supported clinical and psycho-social research initiatives
- Knowledge Translation: Turn lived experience into actionable improvements
Why It Matters
- Bridges lived experience and evidence to shape care, programs, and policies that truly meet community needs.
- Translates knowledge into tangible improvements in treatment, access, and support.
- Advances understanding of SCD so present and future generations can live healthier, fuller lives.
Want to support a research initiative?
Policy & Systems Advocacy
Advance equitable systems of care through advocacy, by addressing systemic barriers and strengthening representation for individuals living with SCD.
Opportunities for Engagement
- Systems Advocacy: Join regional advisory councils, advocacy initiatives, and policy discussions
- Collective Voice: Support equity-focused SCD initiatives and strengthen regional/provincial representation
- Partner with SCAGO: Elevate community-informed priorities to influence systemic change
Why It Matters
- Elevates the voices of individuals and families living with SCD, ensuring they influence policies and decisions that affect their lives.
- Drives systemic change that removes barriers, increases equity, and improves access to care.
- Builds collective power so the SCD community can shape a fairer, more responsive healthcare system.
Want to join a regional advisory council?
Practical support, real community
This hub provides practical resources, educational materials, advocacy support, and information on events and programs for people living with SCD and their caregivers — fostering a strong sense of community. It also supports healthcare providers and community partners by sharing best practices, research updates, and collaboration opportunities to improve care in London & Southwestern Ontario.
Vision
A region where every person living with sickle cell disease receives timely, equitable, and compassionate care — and where the community around them is informed, connected, and empowered.
Mission
To support individuals and families living with SCD across London & Southwestern Ontario through advocacy, education, community connection, and collaboration with regional healthcare partners.
Objectives
Strengthen local care pathways, expand peer support and education, amplify community voices in research and policy, and build lasting partnerships between healthcare providers and the SCD community.
Values
Collaboration, education, compassion, justice, advocacy, care, research, inclusion, community, and health guide everything we do.
Looking for a specific pathway? Jump back up to Individuals & Families or Healthcare & Community.
Let's stay connected
Whether you have a question, want to book time with a regional coordinator, or want to explore a partnership — we'd love to hear from you.