Author - Joe Bodego

Sanjeev brings over 20 years of international experience working in the life sciences sector, launching innovative therapies, devices, and services to address unmet needs with patients living with a rare disease condition. Sanjeev is the Head of Business Operations at Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT) where he is responsible for bringing the company’s innovations to patients impacted by Sickle Cell Disease. Prior to GBT, Sanjeev worked at Takeda/ Shire and was responsible for developing and commercializing a novel pipeline asset across three rare hematological conditions including sickle cell disease. Sanjeev spent ~10 years at Shire in the US and Switzerland locations where he has held numerous leadership positions across Global Strategy and Brand Teams, Corporate Development, and International Commercial organizations. Earlier in his career, Sanjeev was a life sciences consultant with clients across the US and European biotech sectors. Since February 2020, Sanjeev has helped to kick start the Global Alliance of Sickle Cell Disease Organizations (GASCDO) bringing together regional and local advocacy organizations on critical initiatives to serve the SCD community, particularly in low resource countries. Additionally, Sanjeev was involved in foundational work with the Care Provider’s program and GASCDO’s 1st awareness campaign “SCD in My Language.” His continued work in the non-profit sector fueled his passion to ultimately co-found PxCentric L.L.C., a health care consultancy focused on delivering initiatives focused on patient and prescriber excellence. Sanjeev is also an active member of The British Asian Trust charity raising awareness and funds for anti-trafficking and child welfare projects. Sanjeev graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and earned a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. He was born and raised in the US and has lived in Switzerland with his wife Shuchi, and two boys since 2014. In his free time, Sanjeev enjoys traveling, cooking, outdoor sports, and progressing his German language skills.

Dr. Suzan Williams completed a B.Sc. at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario in 1993. In 1997 she completed medical school at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario. She completed paediatric and paediatric haematology oncology training at McMaster University Medical Centre in Hamilton, Ontario in 2003. She joined the full-time faculty in the Paediatric Hemostasis Program of the Hematology section in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at The Hospital for Sick Children, in 2003, as a clinician specialist in the Department of Paediatrics, and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. She completed a M.Sc. in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario in 2006, and a M.Sc. in Haemoglobinopathy through the University College London, London, United Kingdom in 2011.

Joy Mburu was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and is a graduate of the University of Nairobi, where she obtained both her medical degree and master's in Pediatrics. She then moved to Alberta, Canada, where she furthered her training in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. She is currently a Clinical fellow in the Hematology Section in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto. Her main area of focus is the treatment and management of children with blood disorders. In her spare time, Joy enjoys the outdoors, traveling, cooking, and spending time with family. She is conversant in Swahili, English and currently learning French. She is very excited to be part of Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO).