Remembering Rudolph Jackson, MD
Your support will continue to honor Dr. Jackson's legacy and help the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.®
Dr. Rudolph Jackson May 31, 1935 - Aug. 19, 2021
A legacy of advancing cures
Rudolph Jackson, MD, and his groundbreaking work were recently commemorated on the St. Jude campus in Memphis, Tennessee, with the dedication of the Hematological Research and Clinical Lab.
ALSAC president and CEO lauds Dr. Jackson's 'bold and compassionate' choice to work for St. Jude
Rick Shadyac, President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude, talks about Dr. Rudolph Jackson's decision to come work at St. Jude in the tumultuous South in 1968. Dr. Jackson's "boundless care" and belief in the equity in health care led him to become the architect of the sickle cell program at St. Jude, and his work with blood cancer and solid tumors helped raise the overall childhood cancer survival rates from 20% to 80%.
Rick also introduces the Bridges family, which includes two daughters with sickle cell disease, and how their treatment at St. Jude inspired their father in a very special way.
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Celebrating a pioneer
ABCD & Company was proud to provide the lead gift of the campaign to honor Dr. Rudolph Jackson on the St. Jude campus — and to be part of a mission that is rooted in health equity and inclusion.
A passion to make a difference
Dr. Jackson's daughter speaks of her father's love for children and his choice to come to work at St. Jude in the 1960s, where he knew he could make a difference.
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In his own words
Dr. Rudolph Jackson talks about how he came to St. Jude in 1968. When St. Jude opened in 1962 in Memphis, Tennessee, it was the first fully integrated children's hospital in the South.
Our hearts are so full with all of the love and generosity. We know our father would be so proud that his legacy at St. Jude will continue.
Kim Marter and Kelley Alexander, Dr. Jackson's daughters
St. Jude patient Courtney was diagnosed with sickle cell in utero. Read her story.
Dr. Rudolph Jackson, one of the first Black doctors at St. Jude, was a groundbreaking figure in the treatment of sickle cell, childhood cancer, solid tumors and other life-threatening diseases.
While he was at St. Jude, Dr. Jackson built the sickle cell program to such a stature that in the early 1970s, the National Institute of Health hired him to head the federal government’s efforts to fight the disease.
Lisa and her children were all treated at St. Jude for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer. Read their story.
In his four years at St. Jude, Dr. Jackson witnessed and took part in new therapies that produced major advances in the battle against childhood cancer. By the time he began working at St. Jude in 1968, St. Jude was beginning to succeed in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer. Since opening in 1962, St. Jude has increased the survival rates for ALL from 4% to 94%.
Make a donation to honor the legacy of Dr. Jackson, and help St. Jude continue to make advancements in the treatment of sickle cell and childhood cancer.
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A $100 donation could help provide about two complete blood count tests for our patients.
St. Jude patient Quincy and his dad
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A $250 donation could help provide about one day of oxygen.
St. Jude patient Olivia and her mom
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A $500 donation could help provide about two red blood cell transfusions.
St. Jude patient Riku
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A $1,000 donation could help cover the cost of a half a day of chemotherapy administered intravenously to leukemia or solid tumor patients
St. Jude patient Langston
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A $2,500 donation could help provide one day of hospitalization for a patient in sickle cell pain crisis.
St. Jude patient Courtney
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A $5,000 donation could help cover the cost of one outpatient visit.
St. Jude patient Elliot
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A $10,000 donation could help cover the cost of a day of inpatient care.
St. Jude patient Imani with her parents
*When you make a donation using this information, your donation will be used to provide breakthrough research, treatment and cures. Items listed here are representative of services and supplies that are part of the treatment and care of children at St. Jude. The cost of each item or service is an approximation, and will vary based on actual costs incurred and individual patient needs. Your donation will be used for the general operating needs of St. Jude, where no family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food.
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Form a giving circle for St. Jude
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Recognize World Sickle Cell Day
St. Jude has been researching sickle cell since the 1960's. Meet some of our patients and learn more about sickle cell disease.
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Join a Sunday of Hope
Make a donation with your church congregation through St. Jude Sunday of Hope to end childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
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Sickle Cell Disease Treatment
St. Jude has one of the largest sickle cell treatment programs in the country. We have been researching and finding cures for sickle cell disease since 1962.
There are many giving options to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Jackson, including stock transfer, IRAs, donor-advised funds and more. Call (800) 395-4341, email giftplanning@alsac.stjude.org, or fill out the form below, and we will assist you.