Our Leadership Team
Who We Are
We are a passionate team of patients, survivors, advocates, care partners, donors, research scientists, clinicians, and healthcare professionals united by a single purpose — to help patients not only survive sickle cell disease, but thrive after it.​
Wunmi Bakare, BSc
Co-Founder | Executive Director
Strategic and purpose-driven PR executive with 16+ years of cross-continental experience in corporate communications, media relations, content strategy, and brand storytelling across healthcare, entertainment, and nonprofit sectors. Wunmi is recognized for advancing inclusion, challenging stigma, and elevating patient voice at the intersection of medicine, media, and community.
206-512-4740
Tina Bakare, MBA
Co-Founder | Head of Finance
A caregiver, business professional, and the co-founder of Sickle Cell Prodigy, where she plays a vital role in advancing advocacy, education, and support for individuals and families impacted by sickle cell disease. A seasoned businesswoman, she is also the CEO of Stephen Claire Associates, a lifestyle company known for creating thoughtfully curated seasonal hampers for global brands like Julius Berger.
206-724-5981
Abayomi Afolayan
Head of Social Media Partnerships
Abayomi is an experienced social media strategist who supports community-focused initiatives. He is passionate about advancing impact-driven work and contributing to efforts that support individuals and families navigating complex health journeys.
206-552-9217
Dapo Bakare, MSc, MBA
Head of Strategy & Innovation
A transplant donor, business professional, and the Founder of Adwa Venture Studio, Daps supports the strategic development of our donor education program. A graduate of MIT, he brings expertise in healthcare innovation and technology working for Fortune 500 companies like Google, YouTube, Amazon, Intel, Raytheon, and Qualtrics.
206-552-9217
Maite Rodriguez, LMSW, MS.Ed
Director | Spanish Support Group
Maite is a mom, children’s book author, social worker, and educator with a background in special education. An immigrant from the Dominican Republic, she draws on her personal and professional experiences to create heartfelt stories that inspire, empower, and reflect the diverse journeys of children and families.
631-371-2014
Alexandra Abreu Minier
Co-Director | Spanish Support Group
Alexandra Abreu Minier is a content creator and Dominican mother based in New York who transforms her experience with sickle cell anemia and her daughter's bone marrow transplant into a message of hope. Through her story, she inspires, educates, and supports families, promoting faith, empathy, and access to life changing information.
206-552-9217
Celenny Sanchez
Facilitator | Spanish Support Group
Celenny Sanchez is a sickle cell caregiver, advocate, and peer support specialist with Sickle Cell Prodigy, supporting the Spanish-language support group Unidos por la Luna. She is an author, a software engineer, and the founder of FISPTek, a NYC building compliance platform. Drawing on her family's own journey with sickle cell disease, she is committed to making sure Spanish-speaking patients and caregivers have access to education and support in their own language.
201-450-2003
Adebola Enikanolaiye, PhD
Co- Director | Survivorship Research Study
Adebola Enikanolaiye, PhD is a scientist with expertise in drug discovery, in vivo biology, and pharmacology, with a strong background in genetic and biomedical research. She has contributed to scientific research in rare diseases and model systems that inform therapeutic discovery and pre-clinical efficacy. Her work has involved advancing understanding of disease mechanisms and supporting translational science efforts to improve health outcomes.
206-552-9217
Taylor John
Director - Community Voice
Taylor is among the first individuals with Sickle Cell Beta Thalassemia to undergo CRISPR gene-editing therapy, bringing a powerful lived perspective to conversations around genetics, biotechnology, and patient-centered care. Drawing from her experience navigating chronic illness and transformative treatment, she is a passionate advocate for health equity and access.
206-552-9217
Kay-Diene Robinson, MPH
Director - Programs & Partnerships | Board Chair
Kay-Diene Robinson, MPH, CHW, is a seasoned rare disease professional, a former sickle cell hemoglobin-SS patient, and a Diversity and inclusion expert. Her journey as a patient advocacy leader began in 2013 and has been marked by highly successful collaborations with thought leaders, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and pharmaceutical collaborations.
206-552-9217
