Results: Sixty individuals attended the symposium. The majority of attendees were female (75%). Forty-four participants completed the SCD Symposium survey. Of the attendees who completed the surveys, 70% were parents or other family member of a child with SCD, 11% health care providers, and 11% patients with sickle cell. The remaining 7% identified themselves as "other" (e.g. various sickle cell program volunteers, and industry). Only 14% of the attendees of the symposium attended last year's

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... mposium in 2017. Participants rated the speakers of the symposium as Excellent (43%) or Outstanding (41%). Conclusion: A symposium for SCD patients and families can increase knowledge of SCD. Participants were able to ask questions, interact, and learn from disease experts, as well as from each other. The symposium allowed for future implications to increase education and advocacy by evaluating parent interest in an advisory committee and/or parent support group.