914-980-6845
About us
Jacqueline Baker
Founder/Emeritus
“Forever in our Hearts”
“In Loving Memory
August 26, 1959 ~ June 13, 2022″
My name is Jacqueline Baker, Founder/CEO Westchester Sickle Cell Disease Outreach. I’m the parent of two adult sons with Sickle Cell Disease and a grandmother of an eight year old who has sickle cell trait. I am a retired elementary school teacher having taught for 35 years in Westchester County.
I have a BA in Psychology and a MS in Elementary Education. I have extensive experience collaborating with SCD community based organizations to support advocacy and legislation in Albany, New York. I partner with other health facilities and attend events to educate the public about Sickle Cell Disease.
I know what it feels like to be all alone with no help, support, and hope, while caring for your loved ones facing many challenges of a chronic illness. My goal is to bring awareness and support for sickle cell disease patients/families living in Westchester County where they can learn from each other to build their strength, body, and mind to live longer healthier lives.
You’re not alone! We’re here to support you, comfort you, and give you inner peace.
OUR Mission
To provide resources that will improve the quality of life for patients with Sickle Cell Disease and other hemoglobinopathies; through education awareness of the disease process, treatment, research, and funding. The mission is personified through our unconditional commitment and dedication to health care, through advocacy, knowledge, referrals and equityto empower patients to make personal health goals.
OUR Vision
Our vision is to provide holisgtic support and education while buildig stronger collaborative community partnerships that will guide the pateitns/families to bring about sustainable changes and gain appropiate health care.
Cassandra E. Dobson
President / Co-Founder
PhD, MS, BS, RN-BC, Ph(c)
I believe in the delivery of optimum patient care. I believe that I am an efficient nurse who always goes above and beyond to meet the needs of the patients. My vision for the future is to educate and empower patients to seek appropriate health care in a timely manner. I am an advocate for the promotion of self-management for the individuals with sickle cell disease.
I have worked in several different positions during my nursing career, from LPN, staff nurse. Currently my position is the Director of Undergraduate studies, Associate Professor at Lehman College, Bronx N.Y.; I have worked on a Per-diem basis as a Patient educator and community services for SCD patients at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y. 2015-2016. I have completed a post doctorate in Epidemiology and Public Health, at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in May of 2010. I believe this additional knowledge was needed to gain better insight on the health of SCD patients.
I am very active in several community organizations, where I sit on the Board of Directors for Coalition for Concern Medical Professionals (CCMP) since 1998 and Queens Sickle Cell Advocacy Network (QSCAN) in 2006-2008. In addition, I am an advisory member for QSCAN 2010 – 2019. I have served as a nurse consultant to persons with sickle cell disease from various organizations. In 2015, I received the Iconic women award from SCDAA. I also received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for my work in the SCD community, from Senator. Charles Rangel. My goal is to continue to touch the lives of children and families who suffer with sickle cell disease and other chronic diseases through research, education and public health programs.
Cheryl Cannon
Executive Director / Advocate
Mitzi Chambers
Treasurer
MS, BS, RN
Mitzi Chambers MS RN BA CRNI is an Adjunct Clinical Instructor at Manhattanville College. [She earned her AAS in Nursing, BA in Psychology, and MS in Nursing with an emphasis in Education]. During her career Mitzi has specialized in Critical Care and Infusion Therapy. She earned her certification in Infusion Therapy 2012. Education and service are a mission of Ms. Chambers. She uses her years of knowledge to impart the importance of Caring Theory, CAB (Circulation, Airway and Breathing), and vascular access in critical thinking to her beginning nursing students at Manhattanville College. Another part of achieving those goals is by being an active member in several organizations such as: Sigma Theta Tau- Delta Zeta Chapter, Chi Eta Phi- Omicron Chapter, and Infusion Nurses Society. Mitzi Chambers has been interested and an active participant in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) throughout her career as a hospital and homecare nurse, an advocate, participant in fundraisers, and attended a Bill hearing in Albany. She looks forward in taking a more active role in improving care to SCD patients by joining WSCO, inc. as a board member.
Nadine Baker
Public Relations -Staff
I am a graduate of Boston University with a BA degree in English Literature with an avid love of books and writing. I’ve worked as an administrative assistant in several departments of Columbia University Law School for 19 years. I am an outgoing person whose strong communication skills enable me to deal proficiently with people from all walks of life. I am also the aunt of two grown nephews who have sickle cell disease. I’ve witnessed their medical challenges and suffering from this disease over the years. I’m a passionate advocate and want to help promote and support bringing Sickle Cell Disease awareness nationwide and all over the world.
Akimie Worrell
Advocate – Board Member
Art Therapist LCAT, ATR-BC ,CHW
Akimie Worrell is a Sickle cell advocate and community health worker, specializing in the area of Art Therapy. She has obtained her Masters in Science from an accredited university and states that she may pursue a doctorate in the future. Miss Worrell who is originally from Barbados, relocated to Westchester County with her mother and brother in search of better health care, she is the only living member in her family with SS. While in Westchester’s health care system, Miss Worrell noticed a slew of disparities, and dealt with many challenges known only to the sickle cell community. She realized that in her area, there were no local sickle cell groups or advocates. She longed to help her community so that others would not need to struggle as she did and by the grace of God in 2020, Akimie, -through a chain of other sickle cell non-profits- found a set of likeminded individuals within her county. With no hesitation She decided to sign on in the effort to start up/be a board member of what is now Westchester Sickle Cell Outreach. WSCO’s priorities line up well with Akimie’s focus of providing holistic and mental health support. She believes her art therapy expertise, life lessons and knowledge base, combines well with each educated, talented and empathic individual making up WSCO. It is hoped that the sickle cell community is able to fully band together in order to provide support, change expectations of health care and greatly enrich the lives for all affected by sickle cell.
Toni Denicola
CPNP
Hello! I am a lifelong Yonkers resident, graduate of Gorton HS and Nurse Practitioner for many years taking care of children/families in NYC and in Yonkers through School-based clinics and member of the Gorton HS Health Magnet Advisory Board. Professionally and personally, I have always been interested in people living well with any chronic disease but have worked with many CBO’s in the sickle cell communities of NYC since 2016. As Program Manager of a QI SCD ECHO federal grant working in the NYC Public Hospital Centers, together we are working to improve the quality of care for people living with SCD. Through my political advocacy I work with many other groups to support laws and funding for research and continuity of care from infancy through adult life. Joining the WSCO as a board member, I hope to share best practices through QI SCD ECHO to Westchester health care professionals and working with WSCO to develop continuous quality of health care and community support for people living with SCD and getting to know new people in my neighborhood!
Dr. Mauvareen Beverly
Advisory Board member
Dr. Mauvareen Beverley an executive-level physician, with 20 years’ experience advocating for improving the patient engagement and cultural competence for all populations, especially the geriatric, immigrant, and African American communities. As AVP, Physician Advisor for NYC Health + Hospitals, she sponsored the first conference on “Improving the Health of the Elderly Black Population”. As Associate Executive Director, Queens Health Network (Elmhurst and Queens Hospital), she implemented the concept of “The Bridge Team” whose role was to bridge the gap in care for the most complicated and vulnerable population, specifically individuals with Sickle Cell disease and as a result improved care and health outcomes. Furthermore, as Deputy Executive Director of Kings County Hospital, her team decreased Congestive Heart Failure readmissions from 30% to 18.7% in less than 2 years. Dr. Beverley is a Fellow at the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) and her Abstract “Health Disparities and Epidemics: Perception vs. Reality was selected for presentation at NYAM 12thAnnual History of Medicine and Public Health Night. Dr. Beverley is also a member of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Medical Society, State of NY (MSSNY), Westchester County Medical Society, Westchester Academy of Medicine and Putnam County Medical Society where she presented Patient Engagement and Cultural Competence Training Program with CME credits. Dr. Beverley received her bachelor’s from Boston University and MD from University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Harlem Hospital-NY Columbia Presbyterian. She is President, Mauvareen BeverleyMD, PLLC. Patient Engagement and Cultural Competence Specialist. |
QUINCY DALLAS
Advocate/Staff
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