By: Pam Perry 

Sickle cell doesn’t discriminate—but our healthcare systems do.

That stark truth sits at the heart of Dr. La’Shardae Scott’s life work—and recently, at the center of a powerful TEDx talk that left audiences across the nation thinking, feeling, and ready to act.

On April 12, 2025, Dr. Scott took the stage at TEDxFaurotPark in Lima, Ohio, to deliver a talk titled “Breaking Barriers: Redefining Advocacy and Care for Sickle Cell Disease.” In it, she didn’t just speak—she stirred souls. She spoke as a mother of two children battling sickle cell disease. As a leader. As a changemaker. Her message was clear: our current healthcare system is failing those who need it most—and it’s time to rebuild it with equity, compassion, and accountability at the foundation.
Watch her TEDx Talk here

As the President and CEO of the Scott Center for Observation, Treatment, and Transition (S.C.O.T.T.), Dr. Scott is transforming how sickle cell disease is addressed in America. Her center, based in Ohio, is not just a clinic—it’s a movement. Under her direction, the Scott Center has become a pivotal force tackling infant mortality, addressing mental health, and improving the critical transition from pediatric to adult sickle cell care.

But let’s be real: this is more than a résumé. It’s a calling.

Dr. Scott’s advocacy is personal. As a mother raising two warriors with sickle cell, she has navigated the emotional, logistical, and financial struggles that come with this disease. It’s that personal experience that fuels her professional mission—to ensure no other family has to fight as hard as she did for basic, quality care.

She’s not just talking about change—she’s making it happen. Dr. Scott co-authored the CDC’s national manual, Oral Health Management in Sickle Cell Patients—a groundbreaking resource used by healthcare providers across the U.S. She’s also secured funding and developed strategic partnerships with leading hospitals to create seamless care pathways for adult sickle cell patients, a demographic often left behind in traditional systems.

And she’s not doing this in isolation. Dr. Scott serves on multiple healthcare equity boards and is a recognized voice within the National Association of Social Workers-Ohio, Region 1, where her leadership continues to spark systemic transformation.

Her impact stretches from the bedside to the boardroom—and beyond. Whether she’s advocating for patients, mentoring healthcare professionals, or speaking on global health disparity panels, Dr. Scott brings a rare combination of expertise, empathy, and electric energy. Her influence is undeniable, and her momentum is unstoppable.

Dr. Scott holds degrees from Eastern Michigan University and a Doctorate of Social Work in Administration and Leadership from the University of Kentucky. But it’s her grit, grace, and God-given calling that truly define her.

Her TEDx talk was not a performance—it was a call to action. A call to dismantle the racial bias that’s baked into our institutions. A call to healthcare professionals to do better. A call to policymakers to listen. And most importantly, a call to families living with sickle cell to know that they are not invisible.

In her own words:

“Advocacy isn’t just a buzzword—it’s my birthright. My children’s lives depend on it. So does yours.”

Looking ahead, Dr. Scott is focused on expanding the Scott Center’s reach, training clinicians on culturally competent care, and pushing legislation that supports sickle cell funding and research. She’s also developing programs that address social determinants of health, like food insecurity and housing instability—because she understands that healing happens beyond hospital walls.

So what does it mean to lead with vision and impact in healthcare?
It looks like Dr. La’Shardae Scott. Bold. Brilliant. Unapologetic. Unstoppable.

Want to Learn More or Book Dr. Scott?

• Email: lscott@scottcenteroh.org
• Website: www.scottcenteroh.org
• TEDx Talk: Watch on YouTube
• Instagram: @ScottCenterOH | @LaShardae_Scott

Dr. Scott is available for keynote speaking, panel discussions, media features, and policy roundtables. She’s not just part of the conversation—she’s leading it.

Published by Joseph T.