Women's History Month at St. Jude

During Women’s History Month and all year long, we honor our female faculty and staff — past and present. Help us celebrate the inspiring women of St. Jude.

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What is Women’s History Month?

Women’s History Month is a time of year dedicated to celebrating the incredible contributions women have made to our history, culture and society. At St. Jude, women are a vital part of our lifesaving mission, and we celebrate and honor the dedication, hard work and advancements they’ve made at our organization and for the world. 

When is Women’s History Month?

March is Women’s History Month. 

 
 

Why do we celebrate Women’s History Month?

Pioneering women at St. Jude are making a difference in the lives of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Each Women's History Month, we pay tribute to those who work in our bench-to-bedside environment, lead labs, provide clinical care and keep our hospital operating efficiently. Our cohesive relationship between clinicians and research investigators provides a collaborative landscape where women flourish and excel. 

 
 
Dorothy Williams sits in an office wearing a lab coat.

Dorothy Williams, MD
 

Women leading the charge at St. Jude

Since we opened our doors in 1962, women have been a crucial part of our history. Some of the most notable accomplishments over these 60-plus years were made by inspirational women:

  • Pathologist Dorothy Williams, MD, pinpointed two of the first specific genetic translocations associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the 1980s.
  • Deputy Clinical Director Pat Flynn, MD, helped form the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trial Unit in the 1990s.
  • Computational Biology chair Jinghui Zhang, PhD, led the development of a better computer tool for finding the genetic missteps that fuel cancer in 2011.
  • The research of Pharmaceutical Sciences member Mary Relling, PharmD, has helped change the landscape of the clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics testing.
  • The research findings of Infectious Diseases chair Elaine Tuomanen, MD, have had important implications for treatment and strategies in the world of infectious diseases and the leading invasive bacterial pathogens in children.
  • As director of the Cancer Survivorship Division, Melissa Hudson, MD, has focused on ensuring survivors of childhood cancer thrive after treatment with reduced side effects.
 
 

The women in medicine at St. Jude have made research advances in the areas of aggressive brain tumors, immunodeficiency diseases, cognitive challenges in childhood cancer survivors, blood-forming stem cells, gene therapy, COVID-19 and pneumococcal infections. These scientists carry on the legacy created by those before them and help set the bar for innovative progress in the research and treatment of childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Read more about our incredibly talented and pioneering women who are leaders in their fields and share their stories across social media by tagging @StJudeResearch and #WomensHistoryMonth

Pat Flynn, Walter Hughes, Wren Kennedy

Pat Flynn, MD (far left) with colleagues.

Read More about the Women of St. Jude

 
 

Women’s History Month employee spotlights

 

Research

 
 

Clinical Care

 
 

Supportive Care Services

 
 
Illustration of a researcher with a microscope.
 

Donate for Women’s History Month

Help us celebrate Women’s History Month by making a donation to St. Jude and supporting the women making research and treatment advancements and caring for our patients and their families every day.

Interested in joining those women? Find a career with us and be a part of our lifesaving mission. 

Donate Now Start Your Career at St. Jude

 
 

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