Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH, is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, JC Peterson Endowed Chair, and founder and director of the Vanderbilt-Meharry Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease. For over 25 years, his research on sickle cell disease has led to fundamental changes in understanding the clinical epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of strokes and silent strokes in children and adults with sickle cell disease. He has been the principal investigator for 4 NIH and 3 foundation-funded controlled clinical trials designed to prevent strokes or cure children or adults with sickle cell disease living in North America, Europe, and Africa. Dr. DeBaun is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (2009) and the American Academy for Arts and Sciences (2025). He received the prestigious 2014 Ernest Beutler Prize and Lecture in Clinical Science from the American Society of Hematology, in recognition of his significant contributions to advancing the care of children and adults with sickle cell disease. Dr. DeBaun has received two international mentoring awards: the Maureen Andrews Award from the Society of Pediatric Research (2017) and the American Society of Hematology Clinical Science Research Mentor Award (2019). He also received the Stanford University Medical School Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and served as the past President of the American Pediatric Society (2023-2024).

Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH, is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, JC Peterson Endowed Chair, and founder and director of the Vanderbilt-Meharry Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease. For over 25 years, his research on sickle cell disease has led to fundamental changes in understanding the clinical epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of strokes and silent strokes in children and adults with sickle cell disease. He has been the principal investigator for 4 NIH and 3 foundation-funded controlled clinical trials designed to prevent strokes or cure children or adults with sickle cell disease living in North America, Europe, and Africa. Dr. DeBaun is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (2009) and the American Academy for Arts and Sciences (2025). He received the prestigious 2014 Ernest Beutler Prize and Lecture in Clinical Science from the American Society of Hematology, in recognition of his significant contributions to advancing the care of children and adults with sickle cell disease. Dr. DeBaun has received two international mentoring awards: the Maureen Andrews Award from the Society of Pediatric Research (2017) and the American Society of Hematology Clinical Science Research Mentor Award (2019). He also received the Stanford University Medical School Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and served as the past President of the American Pediatric Society (2023-2024).