Study Finds Clinician Bias Fuels Stigma in Sickle Cell Care

Research at UChicago Medicine unpacks how overlapping stigmas around race, chronic pain, and opioid use impact care quality for Black patients with sickle cell disease.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:14am

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray photograph revealing the intricate internal structure of a human heart, glowing against a dark background. The heart represents the vital organ affected by sickle cell disease, with the translucent quality symbolizing the invisible nature of this chronic illness.An X-ray image of a human heart highlights the hidden complexities of sickle cell disease, a chronic illness that disproportionately impacts Black patients and is often stigmatized.Chicago Today

A new study led by researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine found that patients with sickle cell disease are more likely to have negative descriptors in their electronic health records compared to other patient groups, suggesting clinician bias fueled by stigma around race, chronic pain, and opioid use. The team developed an educational intervention to mitigate these biases and improve care quality for this marginalized patient population.

Why it matters

Patients with sickle cell disease, who are predominantly Black, have long faced disparities in the quality of care they receive. This research sheds light on the intersectional biases that contribute to these disparities, highlighting the need for effective anti-bias interventions to ensure equitable treatment for this chronically ill population.

The details

The study used natural language processing and machine learning to analyze over 18,000 patient records and 40,000 clinician notes, finding that patients with sickle cell disease had higher odds of having negative descriptors like "aggressive" or "noncompliant" compared to Black patients without sickle cell and patients with chronic pain. The odds were similar to patients with opioid use disorder, suggesting bias is strongly tied to stigma around opioid use, even though the majority of sickle cell patients do not have an opioid use disorder.

  • The study was published in JAMA Network Open in April 2026.
  • The educational intervention has been delivered to almost 70 UChicago Medicine residents during the 2025-2026 academic year.

The players

Austin Wesevich

A hematologist and health services researcher at the University of Chicago Medicine who led the study.

Monica Peek

The Ellen H. Block Professor for Health Justice at UChicago Medicine and senior author on the study.

University of Chicago Medicine

The academic medical center where the research was conducted.

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What they’re saying

“Unfortunately, this contemporary media portrayal is all too relevant. Nationwide, patients with sickle cell disease are not receiving the same quality of care that other patients experience.”

— Austin Wesevich, Hematologist and health services researcher

“Part of the issue for Black patients — and many marginalized groups — is that many in this population have multiple social identities that may be stigmatized because of income, immigration status, gender, or other factors. So when patients experience discrimination in healthcare, it is challenging to pinpoint what identity may be triggering the behavior.”

— Monica Peek, The Ellen H. Block Professor for Health Justice

“Although patients with sickle cell disease routinely use opioid medications to manage their chronic pain, the vast majority do not have an opioid use disorder. It is a testament to the strength of their character that they do their best to live full lives while managing debilitating pain with the minimum amount of medication. And yet, within health professions and society as a whole, there is a persistent bias that stereotypes these patients primarily as 'drug-seekers' rather than regular people managing a chronic disease.”

— Monica Peek, The Ellen H. Block Professor for Health Justice

What’s next

The educational intervention developed by the research team has been delivered to almost 70 UChicago Medicine residents during the 2025-2026 academic year, and early signs indicate the program is effective. Other academic institutions and community organizations are already interested in implementing the intervention at their own centers.

The takeaway

This research highlights the urgent need to address the intersectional biases and stigmas that contribute to disparities in sickle cell care, particularly for Black patients. By developing and scaling effective anti-bias interventions, healthcare providers can work to ensure equitable, high-quality treatment for this chronically ill population.