Danielle Cicka, MD, PhD, a resident physician at Washington University in St. Louis, has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 HIP Resident Award. The HIP Resident Award Program supports first- and second-year medical residents in hematology across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with a goal of fostering a workforce that reflects the diverse patient populations it serves. The program provides funding for mentored blood science research, career development mentorship from American Society of Hematology (ASH) members, complimentary ASH membership, and an honorarium to attend the ASH Annual Meeting to present research findings.
Dr. Cicka’s project, “Assessing the Rate of Adverse Outcomes in Sickle Disease: A Claims-Based Cohort Study,” will evaluate real-world patterns in the use of disease-modifying therapies for sickle cell disease (SCD). Using national claims data, the study aims to quantify how frequently these therapies are utilized, how long patients remain on treatment, and whether uptake differs by insurance type and patient demographics. By characterizing real-world treatment patterns, this work seeks to identify gaps in access and inform interventions to improve the delivery of evidence-based therapies for individuals with SCD.
Dr. Cicka is mentored by Career Development Mentor Irem Eldem, MD, and Research Mentor Sana Saif Ur Rehman, MD. Their guidance will support the project’s scientific rigor and Dr. Cicka’s ongoing professional development in hematology research.