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Honors and awards

We have a rich history of clinical and scientific achievements, and our faculty and staff are regularly recognized as the best in their fields. See below for a list of international awards and recognitions we have received.

  1. "America's Greatest Workplaces for Parents and Families"
    Newsweek (2023)

    "America’s Best Employers By State"
    Forbes (2023)

    "Healthiest Employer of Tennessee"
    Ranked No. 1 in TN for its employee size, Healthiest Employers (2023)

    "Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America"
    Ranked No. 11 nationally, Healthiest Employers (2023)

    Top children's cancer hospital in the U.S., Best Children's Hospital rankings
    U.S. News & World Report (2008-2023)

    One of the “Best Places to Work”
    Glassdoor (2018-2023)

    One of the "100 Best Companies to Work For"
    Fortune magazine (2011-2019)

    One of the top places students and young professionals want to work
    Career Interest Survey, National Society of High School Scholars (2013-2018)

    One of the "Best Workplaces for Millennials"
    Fortune magazine (2015-2018)

    One of the "Companies That Care"
    People magazine (2017)

    One of the "Best Workplaces for Women"
    Fortune magazine (2016, 2017, 2018)

    One of the "Best Workplaces for Diversity"
    Fortune magazine (2015, 2016)

    One of the "Best Workplaces in Health Care & Biopharma"
    Fortune magazine (2015-2020)

    One of the Top Workplaces in Memphis (large companies)
    Commercial Appeal (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018)

    Top Workplace Awards: Meaningfulness Award
    Commercial Appeal (2017)

    Top Workplace Awards: New Ideas Award
    Commercial Appeal (2016)

    Top Workplace Awards: Leadership Award
    Commercial Appeal (2015, 2018)

    Top Workplace Awards: Direction Award
    Commercial Appeal (2014)

    National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center designation (2008, 2014, 2018)

    Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipient
    Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve of the Department of Defense (2014)

    Omar N. Bradley Spirit of Independence Award (2010)

    One of the top 10 Best Places to Work in Academia for seven consecutive years
    The Scientist

    One of the top children's cancer care hospitals in the U.S.
    Parents magazine for two consecutive surveys

  2. Smithsonian Magazine American Ingenuity Award (2019)
    Recipients: Ewelina Mamcarz, MD; Stephen Gottschalk, MD; Sheng Zhou, PhD; Timothy Lockey, PhD; Shane Cross, PharmD; Guolian Kang, PhD; Zhijun Ma, Jose Condori, Jola Dowdy, Brandon Triplett, MD; Chen Li, Gabriela Maron, MD; William Janssen, PhD; Byoung Ryu, Mitchell Weiss, MD, PhD; Benjamin Youngblood, PhD; and Michael Meagher, PhD

    American Association for Cancer Research AACR Team Science Award (2019)
    Recipients: Gregory Armstrong, MD; Nickhill Bhakta, MD, MPH; Tara Brinkman, PhD; Wassim Chemaitilly, MD; Matthew Ehrhardt, MD, MS; Daniel Green, MD; I-Chan Huang, PhD; Melissa Hudson, MD; Kevin Krull, PhD; Daniel Mulrooney, MD; Kirsten Ness, PhD; Leslie Robison, PhD; Deo Kumar Srivastava, PhD; Carmen Wilson, PhD; Yutaka Yasui, PhD; Jinghui Zhang, PhD

    Magnet Recognition, American Nurses Credentialing Center (2015, 2020)
    Recipients: Nursing

    American Society of Clinical Oncology Pediatric Oncology Award (2009)
    Recipients: Dr. William Evans and Dr. Mary Relling

    American Association for Cancer Research AACR Team Science Award (2009)
    Recipients: Dario Campana, MD, PhD; Cheng Cheng, PhD; James Downing, MD; Dr. William Evans, director and CEO; Melissa Hudson, MD; Sima Jeha, MD; Charles Mullighan, MD; Ching-Hon Pui, MD; Susana Raimondi, PhD; Mary Relling, PharmD; Raul Riberio, MDI

    Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (2009, 2010)
    Recipients: Intensive Care Unit

  3. Wai Yiu (George) Cheung, PhD

    • Gairdner Foundation International Award (1981)

     John Cunningham, MD

    • American Society of Hematology Faculty Scholar (1996)

    Peter Doherty, PhD

    • Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (now National Academy of Medicine) (2008)
    • Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1996)
    • Honorary Doctor of Sciences Degree, Imperial College of Sciences, Technology and Medicine, London, England (2000)
    • National Academy of Sciences (1998)
    • Fellow of the Royal Society, London (1996)
    • Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award (1995)

    James R. Downing, MD

    • Fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Class of 2022)
    • Outstanding Achievement in Pediatric Cancer Research Award, AACR-St. Baldrick’s Foundation (2020)
    • American Society of Clinical Oncology Pediatric Oncology Award and Lecture (2019)
    • Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches Project (2017)
    • E. Donnall Thomas Lecture and Prize (2017)
    • The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Prize (2017)
    • American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2016)
    • Blue Ribbon Panel for Vice President Joe Biden’s National Cancer Moonshot Initiative (2016)
    • Distinguished Service Award (Miami 2015 Winter Symposium)
    • Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (now National Academy of Medicine) (2013)
    • Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2003)
    • Outstanding Young Investigator Award (United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology) (1996)
    • Philip Levine Award for Outstanding Research (American Society for Clinical Pathology) (2005)

    Michael Dyer, PhD

    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator (2013)
    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Early Career Scientist (2009)
    • Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences for 2004 (The Pew Charitable Trusts)
    • Cogan Award (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) (2008)

    William Evans, PharmD

    • Claes Nobel World Betterment Award 2014, National Society of High School Scholars Foundation
    • Oscar B. Hunter Memorial Award in Therapeutics (American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics) 2013
    • Remington Honor Medal (American Pharmacists Association)
    • Rawls-Palmer Progress in Medicine Award (American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics) (2006)
    • NIH MERIT Award 1987, 1995, 2005
    • Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (now National Academy of Medicine) (2002)
    • Leon Goldberg Award (American Society for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1991)
    • Russell R. Miller Research Award (American College of Clinical Pharmacy (1992)
    • Tyler Award for Stimulation of Research (American Pharmaceutical Association) (2002)
    • Volwiler Research Achievement Award (American Association Colleges of Pharmacy) (1994)

    Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, MD

    • Eminent Scientist and Outstanding Scholar of the Year International Award (International Research Promotion Council - Asian-Pacific Chapter) (2001)

    Richard Gilbertson, MD, PhD

    • Sydney Schlobohm Leadership Chair of Research (2006) (Brain Tumor Society)

    Douglas Green, PhD

    • International Cell Death Society Award, International Cell Death Society (2009)

    Suzanne Gronemeyer, PhD

    • Margaret Hay Edwards Achievement Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Cancer Education, American Association for Cancer Education (2009)

    Greg Hale, MD

    • America's Top Physicians (Consumer's Research Council of America)

    Andres Herrada Hidalgo, PhD

    • Pew Latin American Fellows Program in the Biomedical Sciences (2013)

    Judith Hicks

    • Social Worker of the Year, Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers (2010)

    James Hoffman, PharmD

    • Pinnacle Award, Individual Award for Career Achievement; American Pharmacists Association Foundation (2016)
    • American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Fellow (2013)

    Walter Hughes, MD

    • Distinguished Physician Award (Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society) (1997)
    • Chancellor’s Medal (Medalla Rectoral), University of Chile (1999)
    • Facultad de Medicina Award, Universidad de Chile (2000)
    • 2004 Citation Award (Infectious Diseases Society of America)

    James Ihle, PhD

    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (1997-2006)
    • William Dameshek Prize (American Society of Hematology) (1995)

    Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti, PhD

    • Fellow of the American Society for Microbiology (2021)

     Michael Kastan, MD, PhD

    • Elected to Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences (2009)
    • NIH Merit Award (2002)
    • Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars (2006)
    • Stohlman Scholar (Medical and Scientific Committee of the Leukemia Society of America) (1999)

    Larry Kun, MD

    • American Society of Clinical Oncology Pediatric Oncology Award (2008)
    • 2007 Gold Medal, The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO)
    • American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Fellow (2006)

    Wing-Hang Leung, MD, PhD

    • Elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigation (2009)

    Tom Look, MD

    • Allison Eberlein Award for Childhood Leukemia Research
    • Excellence in Pediatric Research Award (American Academy of Pediatrics) (1995)

    Belinda N. Mandrell, PhD, RN, PNP

    • 2020  American Academy of Nursing Fellow
    • 2017  The Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing, Distinguished Researcher Award

    Alvin Mauer, MD

    • St. Boniface General Hospital Research Foundation Award (with Danny Thomas)

    Jon McCullers, MD

    • Roche Young Investigator Award (2001)

    Stephan Morris, MD

    • International Childhood NHL Excellence Award in Basic Science (Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation)

    Ray Mulhern, PhD

    • Logan Wright Distinguished Research Award (Society of Pediatric Psychology) (2000)

    Charles Mullighan, MBBS(Hons), MSc, MD

    • William Dameshek Prize, American Society of Hematology (2016)
    • Joanne Levy, MD, Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement, American Society of Hematology (2009)
    • Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences (2009)

    Arthur Nienhuis, MD

    • American Society of Hematology Mentor Award (2009)
    • Henry Stratton Medal of the American Society of Hematology (1998)
    • National Cancer Advisory Board (Presidential appointment) (1998)
    • National Cancer Advisory Board (Presidential reappointment to a full six-year term) (1999)
    • Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (now National Academy of Medicine) (2002)

    Paul Northcott, PhD

    • Pew-Stewart Scholar 2016 (Pew Charitable Trusts)

    Guillermo Oliver, PhD

    • Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2011)

    Joseph Opferman, PhD

    • Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences for 2006 (The Pew Charitable Trusts)

    Asha Pillai, PhD

    • V Scholar in Cancer Research (2012)

    Donald Pinkel, MD

    • Charles F. Kettering Prize (General Motors Cancer Research Foundation) for pioneering research at St. Jude (1986)
    • Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award
    • David Karnofsky Medal (American Society of Clinical Oncology)

    Charles Pratt, MD

    • Lifetime Achievement Award (Children's Oncology Group) (2001)

    Ching-Hon Pui, MD

    • Honorary degree Doctor of Science, Sewanee, The University of the South (2017)
    • Foreign Member, Chinese Academy of Engineering (2015)
    • Academician, Academia Sinica (2014)
    • 2012 Pediatric Oncology Award (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
    • 2011 Henry M. Stratton Medal (American Society of Hematology)
    • 2011 Joseph H. Berchenal Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Research (American Association for Cancer Research)
    • Castle Connolly National Physician of the Year Award for Clinical Excellence (2010)
    • American Association for Cancer Research Team Science Award (team leader, 2009)
    • F.M. Kirby Clinical Research Professor, American Cancer Society (2002)
    • Angel Grant Award (National Cancer Coalition) (2002)
    • Honorary Professor, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliates of Capital University of Medical Sciences (2002)
    • Elected to Association of American Physicians (1999)
    • Best Doctors in America (1998-present)
    • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (1998)
    • Elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation (1996)
    • Honorary Professor, University of Hong Kong (1993)

    Mary Relling, PharmD

    • Rawls-Palmer Progress in Medicine Award (American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics) (2013)
    • Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (now National Academy of Medicine) (2009)
    • Leon Goldberg Award (American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics) (1998)

    Raul Ribeiro, MD

    • Paul P. Carbone Award in International Oncology (International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research) (2011)

    Leslie Robison, PhD

    • American Society of Clinical Oncology Pediatric Oncology Award (2014)

    Charles Rock, PhD

    • Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2020)

    Martine Roussel, PhD

    • National Academy of Sciences (2019)
    • 2011 Fellow and Foreign Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences

    Victor M. Santana, MD

    • President's Award for Distinguished Service (Society of Clinical Research Associates) (2010)

    Brenda Schulman, PhD

    • National Academy of Sciences (2014)
    • 2012 Fellow and Foreign Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
    • Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Award (The Protein Society) (2011)
    • Beckman Young Investigator Award (2004-2007)
    • Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (2005)
    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2005-present)
    • Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences for 2002 (The Pew Charitable Trusts) (2002-2006)

    Akshay Sharma, MBBS

    • Young Investigator Award, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (2019)
    • Young Investigator Travel Award, Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium (2019)

    Charles Sherr, MD, PhD

    • Prize for Scientific Excellence in Medicine (American-Italian Cancer Foundation) 2013
    • American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow (2013)
    • American Association for Cancer Research Academy Fellow (2013)
    • American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2010)
    • Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (now National Academy of Medicine) (2004)
    • Charles S. Mott Prize (General Motors Cancer Research Foundation) (2004)
    • William Dameshek Prize (American Society of Hematology)
    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (1998-present)
    • Milken Family Medical Foundation Cancer Research Award (1989)
    • Pezcoller International Award (American Association for Cancer Research) (2000)
    • Ernst W. Bertner Memorial Award (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center) (2000)
    • Bristol-Myers Squibb's 23rd Annual Silver Medallion for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Cancer Research (2000)
    • National Academy of Sciences (1995)
    • Second Annual Kirk A. Landon Prize for Basic Cancer Research (American Association for Cancer Research) (2003)
    • Fellow of the American Society for Microbiology (1994)

    Joseph Simone, MD

    • Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award (American Association for Cancer Research) (1979)

    Brian Sorrentino, MD

    • 2005 ISEH McCulloch and Till Lectureship and Award (International Society for Experimental Hematology)

    J. Paul Taylor, MD, PhD

    • The Potamkin Prize (2020)
    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2015)
    • Elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigation (2010)

    Elaine Tuomanen, MD

    • Distinguished Research Award, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (2014)
    • Elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology
    • The Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation Award
    • E. Mead Johnson Award for Research in Pediatrics (1997)
    • Maxwell Finland Award (Infectious Disease Society of America) (1998)

    Vida Tyc, PhD

    • Fellow of the American Psychological Association (2004)
    • Fellow of the Society for Pediatric Psychology (2004)

    Richard Webby, PhD

    • Scientific American 50 - Research Leader in Public Health and Epidemiology (2004)

    Robert Webster, PhD

    • Charles Mérieux Award, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (2013)
    • Leeuwenhoek Lecture, Royal Society in London (2010)
    • Fellow of the Royal Society, London (1989)
    • Fellow of the Royal Society, New Zealand (1990)
    • National Academy of Sciences (1998)
    • Twelfth Annual Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Infectious Diseases Research (2002)

    Cynthia Wetmore, MD, PhD

    • Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation on the U.S. Award for Excellence in Basic Science Research (Society for Neuro-Oncology)
    • Peter K. Steck Memorial Award (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center)

    Xiaoping Xiong, PhD

    • 2004 International Health Professional of the Year (International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England)
    • Man of the Year 2004 (American Biographical Institute, USA)

    Jun Yang, PhD

    • Young Investigator Award, American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2009)

    Stanislov Zakharenko, MD, PhD

    • 2006 Searle Scholar

    Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director

    • 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom
    • 2011 Jefferson Award for lifetime achievement

    Danny Thomas, Founder

    • Congressional Gold Medal in 1985 from President Ronald Reagan for his work at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    • Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in 2004 (posthumous) recognizing Thomas' contributions to the development of television and radio as a family medium and as a platform for establishing, promoting and supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
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