Meet the Doctors and Staff at UPMC's Adult Sickle Cell Disease Program

Our multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive clinical services to help you efficiently manage your sickle cell disease or thalassemia.

We also work very closely with our pediatric partners at the Sickle Cell Program of the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Dr. Cheryl Hillery and other team members.

Sickle Cell Doctors and Staff

Laura De Castro, MD, MHSc
Hematologist 

Enrico Novelli, MD, MS
Hematologist 

Olubusola Oluwole, MD, MS
Hematologist

Julia Z. Xu, MD, MScGH
Hematologist

Victoria Anastasia Lytwak, PA-C
Physician Assistant

Natasha Sticca-Wright, CRNP
Nurse Practitioner

Jude Jonassaint, RN
Research Nurse

Jude has been coordinating clinical research trials in sickle cell disease for over 13 years, previously at Duke University and since 2014 at UPMC. He has clinical nursing experience in intensive care, surgery and psychiatry and he has become expert in information technology and data analysis in clinical research. Duke University recognized him with the the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for significant contributions to the community and to those who lead lives of integrity.

Other Members of the Sickle Cell Disease Care Team