PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Sept. 15, 2025) – Prairie View A&M University is stepping into a national leadership role with the launch of the Student Sickle Cell Warrior Project, a groundbreaking pilot program designed to support college students living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). The initiative officially begins on Sept. 17, 2025, and will serve as a model for universities across the country.
Sickle Cell Disease is a life-threatening, inherited blood disorder that disrupts the normal function of red blood cells. It disproportionately impacts Black families, who make up about 85% of SCD cases in Texas. For students managing the severe, often debilitating symptoms of SCD, college life can mean balancing medical needs while being far from family and familiar healthcare providers.
The Student Sickle Cell Warrior Project aims to close that gap. Prairie View A&M students identified by the Owens Franklin Health Center will be connected to specialized care at Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, or UT Houston. They will also receive additional support through the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation in Austin, Texas.
Tondra L. Moore, PhD, JD, MPH
“This is great opportunity for Prairie View to help establish a model of support for college students nationwide who have been diagnosed with sickle cell disease,” said Dr. Tondra L. Moore, executive director of Health Services at PVAMU.
Prairie View A&M was selected as the pilot site in recognition of Dr. Moore’s national leadership through the American College Health Association, where she has elevated the work of PVAMU’s health professionals and advocated for stronger student-centered care.
By prioritizing the unique needs of Student Warriors, the project underscores PVAMU’s commitment to innovation in student health and its mission to advance student success.
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