Referring Physicians Office


Dr. Torrey Sandlund with patient

The Referring Physicians Office at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital establishes and facilitates ongoing links to physicians whose patients may be accepted for treatment or consultation. We are committed to insuring that the needs of all referring physicians are met in a professional, knowledgeable, and customer friendly manner.

Through this service, physicians receive answers to basic questions regarding patient referrals and are connected to the appropriate St. Jude physicians. The office also handles inquiries from family and friends interested in having their loved ones admitted to St. Jude. It is equally important that they know and understand how the referral process works.

The focus of the Referring Physicians Office is to:

The staff works closely with St. Jude clinicians to coordinate physician-to-physician communication and provide feedback once patients have been accepted for treatment or consultation at St. Jude.

“It is very important for the referring physicians to know and understand what is available for their patients at St. Jude. Equally so, we have to make sure that parents and relatives interested in having their loved ones admitted to St. Jude understand the referral process and exactly what we do here,” said Tracy Dodd, Physician Referral Services manager. “At all times, we must provide knowledgeable referral assistance, excellent customer service and sincere compassion to anyone who contacts the office. And while we don’t make referrals to other institutions, when a patient is ineligible for admission to St. Jude, we try to give the family other resources for possible assistance.”

Also included in the RPO staff are Cindy Burleson, Director; Kristi Thomas and Vicki Maness, Patient/Physician Referral Representatives; and Nancy Parnell, Administrative Associate.

Contact the Referring Physician's Office by clicking the link in Related Topics.