{"id":5619,"date":"2026-08-20T07:40:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T07:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crosscountrymovingteams.com\/?p=5619"},"modified":"2026-08-20T07:40:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T07:40:06","slug":"the-new-head-of-americas-top-childrens-hospital-sees-the-dawn-of-a-new-era-for-kid-cancer-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crosscountrymovingteams.com\/?p=5619","title":{"rendered":"The new head of America\u2019s top children\u2019s hospital sees \u2018the dawn of a new era\u2019 for kid cancer treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Roberts, who has been director of St. Jude\u2019s Comprehensive Cancer Center and an executive vice president, will begin his new job on Jan. 1, as Downing moves into a faculty role in the hospital\u2019s Global Pediatric Medicine department.<\/p>\n

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When actor and philanthropist Danny Thomas founded St. Jude in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1962, the survival rate for childhood cancer patients was around 20%. Today, it is more than 80% and Roberts says the hope is for all childhood cancers to be easily treatable someday, with major strides toward that goal are within reach.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m really excited because I think we are at the dawn of a new era,\u201d Roberts told The Associated Press in an interview. \u201cIn the next several years, I believe we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve much more of Danny\u2019s dream than ever before. And I\u2019m excited to take us there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The opportunity comes through a convergence of technological advances that are creating treatments that kill childhood cancers more effectively, while also reducing the impact on the patient, Roberts said. Technology is also helping create treatments for more catastrophic childhood diseases beyond cancer.<\/p>\n

Judy Habib, chair of the St. Jude Board of Governors, said Roberts\u2019 emphasis on new treatment discoveries played a significant role in convincing the board to choose him as the hospital\u2019s next leader after a global search.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe combines the rigor of a researcher, the care of a clinician, and passion for our mission, making him the perfect person to lead one of the most accomplished pediatric research institutions in the world,\u201d Habib said in a statement.<\/p>\n

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Roberts plans to continue his research as CEO<\/h4>\n

When he takes on his new role as St. Jude CEO, Roberts said he plans to continue his research, which has included confirming that certain genes suppress the growth of tumors.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeeping my hand in that is really important to make sure that I\u2019m still at the cutting edge of understanding where the field is, what the opportunities are,\u201d he said. \u201cWorking with other researchers is very useful input to me in helping steer our priorities. I\u2019m a big believer in learning and growing and having input from others.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Downing, who recruited Roberts from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 2015 to head St. Jude\u2019s Comprehensive Cancer Center, said Roberts has built the center into a \u201cnational treasure,\u201d according to the National Cancer Institute.<\/p>\n

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\u201cCharlie represents a unique combination of physician, researcher and leader,\u201d Downing said in a statement to The Associated Press, adding that Roberts is \u201cthe right person at the right moment to lead this institution into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Donations offset St. Jude\u2019s financial constraints, but not completely<\/h4>\n

Part of that future will require dealing with the financial constraints of treating childhood cancers, which receive less research investment from pharmaceutical companies that focus more on adult cancers, as well as\u00a0federal cuts to scientific research funding. Roberts said St. Jude will maintain its policy of providing treatment at no cost to patients or their families. The hospital also plans to expand its services to make treatment available to more children around the world.<\/p>\n

He said St. Jude is able to continue this work with philanthropic support from ALSAC, the hospital\u2019s fundraising arm. According to an\u00a0analysis by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, ALSAC raised an average of $2.3 billion a year in donations between 2021 and 2023, making it the second-largest fundraiser in the United States, behind only United Way.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t go all the way and completely replace what pharma does,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cBut (donations) will for sure help us get more things to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ike Anand, president and CEO of ALSAC, said he welcomes Roberts\u2019 partnership in their shared mission.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFew people embody the promise of St. Jude quite like Charlie Roberts,\u201d Anand said. \u201cHe understands the urgency that patients and families feel, the extraordinary possibilities emerging at the intersection of science and technology, and the trust that donors place in this mission every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marlo Thomas, St. Jude\u2019s national outreach director and daughter of founder Danny Thomas, said Roberts embodies the hospital\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are closer than ever before to realizing my father\u2019s dream that no child should die in the dawn of life, thanks in large part to the work of Charlie Roberts over the past decade,\u201d she said in a statement. \u201cI wish my father were here for this remarkable passing of the torch.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP\u2019s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP\u2019s philanthropy coverage, visit\u00a0https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/philanthropy.<\/p>\n

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St. Jude CEO Dr. Charles W. M. 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