Sickle Cell expert’s lasting legacy
One of Central Middlesex Hospital’s most famous daughter’s has passed away.
Dr Misha Brozovic helped set up the UK's first Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening and Counselling Centre in 1979.
The haematologist had noticed how many of her patients had Sickle Cell and set about educating herself and others about the little known condition.
She organised two lectures packed with clinical staff eager to learn more.
One of the attendees was community nurse Elizabeth Anionwu who was already interested in Sickle Cell and had strong links with Brent’s black community which was predominantly affected by the condition.
The now Dame Elizabeth Aniounwu said: “I remember asking lots of questions and she stopped me in the corridor after the meeting sensing a kindred spirit she could work with.
“Misha had a talent for spotting qualities in people they couldn’t see. She was very intelligent but married that with being approachable and treated everyone the same irrespective of position or experience.
“She could see where the gaps in care were and wanted to do something about it. She asked me to join her and my first job was finding out how many sickle cell patients we had."
The pair went on to set up the first screening and counselling centre as well as educate thousands of health professionals.
They kept in touch over the years and Elizabeth last visited Misha at home shortly before the pandemic.
“She was a wonderful teacher and mentor.”