Selfie time
A small group of St. Jude faculty and staff gather for a photo to celebrate the most recent Fortune magazine award.
They’ve come from 50 states and more than 80 foreign countries, inspired by the mission, awed by the phenomenal scientific facilities. These dedicated individuals marshal their intellect, their compassion and their energy toward one goal: finding cures and saving children.
They are the employees of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Thousands of faculty and staff work together night and day to make discoveries and advance cures. Whether they’re practicing medicine and science, calibrating state-of-the-art machinery or cooking gourmet food, St. Jude employees offer families a light in the darkness.
“It is our diverse and talented workforce that makes us who we are,” says James R. Downing, MD, St. Jude president and chief executive officer.
Long celebrated for its clinical and scientific merits, St. Jude now heads many lists as one of the best workplaces in America.
The reason?
“Our patients and their families inspire us to continue searching for cures and improving treatments,” explains Dana Bottenfield, vice president of St. Jude Human Resources. “Our employees connect to our mission, and we’re focused on fostering a culture that allows them to do their best work.”
Our employees connect to our mission, and we’re focused on fostering a culture that allows them to do their best work.
For the past eight years, St. Jude has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by Fortune magazine. In 2018, Glassdoor named the hospital to its listing of the nation’s best places to work. People magazine has touted St. Jude as one of the “Companies That Care.” Fortune also praised the institution as one of the best workplaces for women and millennials, as well as for diversity and health care. And the federal government has lauded St. Jude for the support it offers employees who serve in the military.
Those accolades inspire St. Jude employees to work harder. The hospital’s workforce features many who are the best in their fields—including Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators, a Nobel laureate and members of the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences.
These employees are drawn by the mission and the unparalleled resources, but they stay because of the collaborative environment—a place where they can save the lives of children today, while discovering the cures of tomorrow.
“We must be bold and ambitious, chasing big dreams and pursuing scientific and medical excellence,” Downing says. “It is our legacy and our future.”
From Promise, Spring 2018
More articles from this issue
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When It Comes to Cancer, Children Aren’t Little Adults
New research proves that children and adults with cancer often have different mutated genes driving their diseases. This reinforces the need for pediatric-specific precision therapies.
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School Liaison Services Help Kids Go Back to School after Treatment
It takes preparation to make a seamless transition back to the classroom. Find out how St. Jude school liaisons help ease children back into their community schools.
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XSCID Gene Therapy: A Second Chance
The LVSCID clinical trial for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency uses a lentiviral vector to insert a healthy copy of the IL2RG gene into blood cells. Find out about the study results.
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A Charitable Gift Annuity: The Extra Mile
Through a charitable gift annuity, one donor receives payments for life while helping St. Jude kids.
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Virtual Reality: A Distraction from Sickle Cell Pain
St. Jude explores virtual reality as a distraction technique for children and teens undergoing the pain crises of sickle cell disease.
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Hodgkin Lymphoma: When Lightning Strikes Twice
Why are some families struck with multiple cases of Hodgkin lymphoma? Learn about the FAMHL clinical trial designed to pinpoint genetic causes.
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6 Ways to Help Teen Patients Navigate Loss
Know teens or young adults who have cancer? Here are some tips for helping them deal with grief.
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Country Cares … And So Does Dad
A longtime supporter recalls the day the hospital’s mission got personal. Read his story.
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Taking Aim at AML: The Mission Continues
Protein profiling may identify moving treatments targets for acute myeloid leukemia. Find out how researchers team up in the VENAML clinical trial to reduce cancer development.
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Life after Cancer Treatment: Incorrigible Optimism
A cancer survivor explains why he participates in SJLIFE — a long-term follow-up study to assess late effects of treatments. It’s not “Would I?” It’s “Why wouldn’t I?”
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The Colors of Caring
Pediatric Oncology Nurse Ron Hardin, RN, wears more than 500 colorful wristbands given to him by patients and staff.
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Research Highlights - Promise Spring 2018
Read about advancements in DNA studies, acute myeloid leukemia research and treatment, improvements in vaccines, cancer survivorship, and more.