Board of Directors

Ashley Valentine is the co-founder of Sick Cells and the Chair of the Board. She is a recognized leader in the sickle cell community at a local and national level. She brings a wealth of experience to the field of sickle cell disease (SCD) both through her professional and personal experience.

Jennifer Bernstein focuses on legislative and regulatory developments within the biopharmaceutical sector with a particular emphasis on rare diseases. Jennifer is on a mission to empower rare disease patients and those who care for them to understand healthcare policy and advocate for policies that positively impact the rare disease community

Deanna Darlington is an Advocacy Relations Professional with more than 25 years of experience in government and external affairs, patient advocacy, policy, reimbursement consulting, and other related fields. She specializes in engaging patient advocacy organizations on access and policy issues which includes a focus on health disparities for vulnerable patient populations. Deanna works closely with advocates on key policy issues that support dialogue and engagement to patient access to quality care and value.

Mr. Holloway is currently a Senior Associate at Alston & Bird. He completed his undergraduate and legal studies at Harvard University. His experience includes working as a summer associate for O’Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles and Covington & Burling LLP in Washington, DC. Mr. Holloway also worked as a full-time Judicial Intern for Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in 2020, in Washington, DC. Mr. Holloway has a sibling and a niece living with SCD, and a sibling who gained their warrior wings.

Dan Jabs is an Army veteran and activist. He has worked as a Peer Support Specialist for veterans returning from deployment, assisting them in accessing various social services and providing guidance for a cognitive behavioral therapy program. Other projects have included starting a recurring breakfast group meeting for combat veterans, petitioning (and then successfully suing) the state of Illinois to add PTSD to the list of conditions eligible for medical cannabis, and many others.

Antuan is a father, caregiver, and advocate from Louisville. After losing his aunt and uncle to sickle cell disease, his daughter Kali’s diagnosis deepened his mission. Since 2014, his family has worked with the Sickle Cell Association of Kentuckiana, finding support and sharing resources. Antuan retired from the United States Postal Service. As a full-time parent, Antuan speaks on care, resilience, and community, helping families face sickle cell together.