Skip to main content

St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program

The St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program aims to increase diversity of the biomedical workforce by addressing inequities in K-16 STEM education.

About the program

A strong biomedical workforce is essential to accelerating discovery and providing high quality patient care. Access to immersive learning, mentorship, or educational resources can reduce barriers to pursuing biomedical career pathways. ​

Our activities focus on creating or expanding access through programming that includes:

  • School and educator partnerships
  • Out-of-School time (OST) science learning opportunities
  • Mentored research experiences
  • Public policy and advocacy

Policy and advocacy

to gain political commitment, policy support, social acceptance and system support to strengthen STEMM education

Teacher professional development

to ensure that teachers have the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to prepare students for careers in biomedical research

Exposure events

to generate awareness and excitement around STEMM programs and careers

Afterschool clubs

to increase engagement with STEMM through hands-on, minds-on activities related to real-world scenarios

Curriculum collaboratives

to work with classroom teachers to co-create learning activities that will engage students and integrate St. Jude science into the school day

Research immersion programs

to provide students with access and opportunity to work directly with scientists who serve as their mentors

Strategic Vision and Goals

Inspired by our St. Jude value to “embrace the challenge to create a new tomorrow,” the vision for the St.Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program is to ensure every child has the opportunity to see themself as a scientist. Driven by this vision, the program aims to provide clear pathways from preschool through college for students to access authentic science learning experiences that connect to careers in biomedical research.

These goals align with St. Jude’s strategic initiatives to enrich the talent pipeline by developing educational efforts targeted at potential future St. Jude employees and strengthen talent sourcing, hiring, career development, promotion and retention, and community outreach.

three people in front of whiteboard

The St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program sponsored 11 student interns. 

The St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program curriculum was used in 21 classrooms across 5 elementary schools, reaching over 450 Memphis-Shelby County Schools kindergarten students.

The St. Jude STEMM Club is hosted at 21 schools, serving 280 students.

20 Ambassadors participated in 28 outreach events, reaching 4,458 K–16 students in the Memphis area.

6 scientists participated in the Memphis STEMM Ambassador Classroom and presented at 6 schools, engaging 82 students nation-wide during the Virtual Science Journal Clubs.

Now, in the fifth year of programming, many of our interns have graduated and are working in STEMM industries. A few have even taken positions at St. Jude!


STEMM Stories: Highlighting Our Impact