St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases, particularly leukemia and other cancers. The hospital is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and is a nonprofit medical corporation designated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity by the Internal Revenue Service. St. Jude was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962 with the mission that "no child should die in the dawn of life". This principle has guided the hospital's operations, ensuring that patients receive care regardless of their family's financial status.

History

The foundation of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was inspired by a promise made by Danny Thomas, a struggling actor in the early 1950s, to Saint Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Thomas vowed that if he found success, he would open a facility dedicated to the patron saint to honor his success. True to his word, Thomas, with the support of Dr. Lemuel Diggs and close friend Anthony Abraham, established the hospital on February 4, 1962. The hospital was built on the premise of combining research and treatment in the fight against catastrophic diseases affecting children.

Mission and Research

The primary mission of St. Jude is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. St. Jude has a unique operating model that covers all of the costs of treatment, travel, accommodation, and food for patients and their families. Since its inception, treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80%.

St. Jude conducts research across various dimensions of pediatric catastrophic diseases, including genetics, immunology, and pharmacology. The hospital is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. It operates the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children.

Facilities and Funding

St. Jude's campus in Memphis includes state-of-the-art research facilities alongside the hospital to facilitate the seamless integration of research and clinical care. The hospital relies heavily on donations from individuals, organizations, and corporations around the world. It is also supported by its fundraising organization, ALSAC (American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities), which was also founded by Danny Thomas to fund the hospital and its research initiatives.

Impact and Recognition

Over the years, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has been recognized for its contributions to pediatric medicine and its unique healthcare model. The hospital's efforts in increasing the survival rate of childhood cancers and other catastrophic diseases have made it a beacon of hope for patients, families, and researchers worldwide. Its commitment to treating patients without regard to their financial situation has also set a precedent for patient care in the healthcare industry.

See Also

• Pediatric oncology
• Leukemia in children
• Danny Thomas
• Nonprofit organization
• National Cancer Institute