Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Dr. Diego Hijano’s Argentine heritage is deeply embedded in the way he approaches his work at St. Jude. Raised in a culture that values accountability, ownership, and purposeful use of resources—whether time, knowledge, or relationships—he credits his father, a small-town lawyer, for modeling these principles with dedication and warmth. His parents’ role as the emotional and financial backbone of their extended family instilled in him a strong sense of responsibility and unity, values that now guide his professional life.

These cultural foundations align seamlessly with the mission of St. Jude: doing what’s right, working with urgency, and always centering the patient. For Dr. Hijano, being a physician means more than clinical care—it’s about being a steward of trust, culture, and compassion.

Perseverance, a core value in Argentine and broader Hispanic/Latino culture, also plays a vital role in his work. He reflects on how many in the community have learned to navigate complex challenges with limited resources, yet continue forward with humility, gratitude, and creativity. This spirit is mirrored in the work at St. Jude, where pushing boundaries and believing in better outcomes is a shared commitment—not for personal gain, but for the children and families who rely on them.

Representation is another responsibility Dr. Hijano embraces with pride. During the pandemic, he actively engaged with Spanish-language media to deliver accurate, culturally relevant health information to Hispanic communities. His goal was to be a trusted voice—someone who not only looked and sounded familiar but who truly understood the values and concerns of the community. He shares his Argentine roots openly, hoping that others, especially those just beginning their journeys, see what’s possible and feel empowered to belong and contribute.

His cultural background also enhances the way he connects with patients and families. With Hispanic families, the connection often goes beyond language—it’s about shared warmth, cultural references, and mutual understanding. Whether discussing favorite foods, regional accents, or Argentine football players, these moments of familiarity build trust, which is essential during difficult clinical conversations. He’s also attuned to cultural nuances in medical decision-making, recognizing that many Hispanic families lean heavily on physician guidance. This awareness helps him advocate more effectively and compassionately.

Through every interaction—whether mentoring, collaborating internationally, or supporting families—Dr. Hijano honors both his heritage and the mission of St. Jude, striving to make every patient feel seen, supported, and inspired.

Dr. Alejandra Gonzalez Ruiz brings the spirit of Mexican ingenuity to her work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Raised in a culture known for its creativity and resourcefulness—especially in the face of adversity—she sees every challenge as an opportunity to adapt, innovate, and succeed. This mindset, deeply rooted in her heritage, shapes how she approaches her role: with curiosity, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the people St. Jude serves. For her, children and their families are the institution’s most valuable resource, and she strives to make the most of every moment and tool available to support them.

Her values—centered on family, purpose, and joy—align seamlessly with the mission of St. Jude. She sees the hospital’s work as a shared journey, one that mirrors the way life is celebrated and honored in her culture. In Mexico, traditions like Día de los Muertos reflect a deep respect for life and remembrance, and Dr. Gonzalez Ruiz finds that same spirit in the way St. Jude walks alongside patients and families through every stage—from diagnosis to survivorship, and even through grief. For her, making a difference in the world is not just a goal—it’s a cultural imperative.

Dr. Gonzalez Ruiz’s path to St. Jude began in 2005, when she cared for a young patient with HIV/AIDS during her medical internship in Mexico City. That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to improving healthcare access and quality for all patients. Years later, while living in Washington State, she received a letter from St. Jude featuring a young Mexican patient named Esmeralda. Moved by the mission, she researched the organization and realized she could contribute more than just a donation—she could bring her expertise in global health and strategic planning to help advance its work. She applied for a role in the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine and joined the team in 2018. Today, she serves on the leadership team for the Department of Oncology, where she leads strategic planning and manages initiatives that span recruitment, retention, communications, and research.

Her leadership is a testament to the power of representation. As a Hispanic Latina in a senior role, she embraces the responsibility to uplift others and foster inclusive, collaborative environments. She leads with care and purpose, showing that people from diverse backgrounds can drive meaningful change for patients across cultures and borders.

One of her proudest achievements came during her time in Global Pediatric Medicine, where she led a multinational team to implement the Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS/EVAT) across 63 hospitals in 18 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Her cultural fluency and ability to communicate in Spanish helped her build trust and lead rapid, effective implementation—even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has improved care and outcomes for thousands of children with cancer, and the relationships she built continue to thrive.

Reflecting on Hispanic Heritage Month, Dr. Gonzalez Ruiz emphasizes the richness and complexity of Latin identity. She notes that while terms like Hispanic and Latino/a/x are often used interchangeably, they represent diverse experiences, languages, and traditions. She celebrates the evolving nature of Latin culture and encourages others to be curious—ask questions, learn about the customs, and embrace the diversity within the community. 

Through her work, her leadership, and her voice, Dr. Gonzalez Ruiz continues to make a difference—honoring her heritage while helping shape a more inclusive and compassionate future at St. Jude and beyond.

Stories are wondrous things. And they are dangerous. Once a story is told, it cannot be called back. Once told, it is loose in the world. You have to be careful with the stories you tell. And you have to watch out for the stories that you are told.
– from ‘The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative’ by Thomas King

As marketers, we should all be intimately familiar with the power of storytelling. Every day, we reach out to people—those currently involved in the St. Jude mission and those who are not—and we tell them that they can make a difference in the world. Yet, how often do we pause to think about the story we are sharing? I want you to keep that question in your mind as I share with you a story of my own.

Toward the start of 2015, I found myself once again in a window seat of a plane taking me from the only home I’d known, Puerto Rico, to a place I’d only briefly visited before: Memphis, Tenn. I had been invited to participate in a competition to earn a leadership-based scholarship to attend Christian Brothers University. If selected, the scholarship would cover my full tuition and fees, allowing me to attend college without placing a strain on my family nor negatively affecting my education because of additional job-related exhaustion.

The reason I mention I was going again was because I had been in Memphis the week before, for the same competition. The competition got moved back a week because of bad weather. I had already used all the money I had saved that school year to pay for my first ticket. Because of this, my entire family decided to help me by pooling the ridiculous amount of money needed to secure the last-minute flight required for me to return to Memphis. This was a lot of sacrifice for my family, so I knew I had to make sure it was worth it. In the week leading up to the competition, I thought of all the things I could do to improve my chances. I begged my English teacher to stay after school with me every day so I could practice mock interviews in English, my second language. I snuck into the teacher’s lounge to print extra copies of my resume and portfolio, just in case. I even took extra coaching shifts to buy my first ever blazer, not wanting to look lesser than anyone else there.

This is only one version of my story: the one I lived and chose to share. There are other versions of this story told by people who might not even know me. Their version might go something like, “She only got that scholarship because she's a minority" or “She stole that scholarship from someone who is better qualified and more deserving”. Although questioning the ‘worthiness’ of marginalized community members in prestigious spaces is a longstanding issue, given our current cultural climate, I believe it is important to emphasize that being marginalized does not diminish one's merit. That the success of those from communities historically kept in the periphery of society doesn’t undervalue the success of those who weren't; it is not moving the spotlight but growing it so that we all might be able to sit under its shine. 

So, you might be asking yourself: Why are you sharing all this with me? And what does this have to do with Marketing or ALSAC? Well, that’s simple: we are the custodians of Danny Thomas’ dream, of his story. He was the son of immigrants—a member of a marginalized cultural group. Yet he pushed the boundaries and founded the first integrated hospital in the south. His dream was radical. But he knew we could create a better world and did not shy away from controversy because it meant furthering a path towards justice, both for the patients and for the people working to keep them alive. As we continue to head into culturally tumultuous times, we must be purposeful in how we tell Danny’s story, and by extension, the story of St. Jude. As the custodians of his dream and his story, it is our honor and responsibility to ensure that we further his commitment to inclusion by protecting the stories of our patients, our doctors, our coworkers and our very foundation.   

I come from the Dominican Republic—half of a vibrant island in the Caribbean where culture runs deep and community means everything. That’s where my story begins, though it quickly took an unexpected turn. I was diagnosed with leukemia at age three and received treatment in New York, but that chapter still shaped how I see the world. Being a childhood cancer survivor taught me early what it means to feel different and how powerful it is when someone chooses to include you anyway.

That feeling of being “other” didn’t end with recovery. As an immigrant, a person of color, LGBTQ+, and someone whose accent always gave me away, I’ve carried that awareness into every space I’ve entered. I’ve lived in four countries and six U.S. states (well, five plus D.C.), and in each place, I’ve seen how inclusion, or the lack of it, can shape not just opportunities, but your sense of self.

When inclusion is present, it’s not just felt—it’s life-changing.

Those experiences are why I care so deeply about equity, representation, and justice. They’re what led me to journalism, and later to social work. I believe in the power of stories, especially the ones that don’t always get told. And I believe that belonging isn’t something you should have to earn. It’s something we all deserve.

That’s why being at ALSAC means so much to me. I see the mission not just in what we do, but in how we treat each other. I value diverse leadership, inclusive culture, and the kind of respect that makes people feel seen. Because at the end of the day, inclusion isn’t just a value—it’s a way of life.