Former St. Jude medical resident becomes lifelong supporter forging a 50-year journey of care and giving

When Dr. Anita D’Sa arrived in Memphis in 1976, she was a young physician pursuing pediatric training after leaving her native India to build a new life in the United States. She planned to care for children. She did not know that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® would become part of her family’s story for the next five decades.

As a resident caring for children with cancer, Anita witnessed both heartbreak and hope. Survival rates were far lower than they are today, and many patients faced uncertain futures. Yet, she found something extraordinary in the way St. Jude cared for children and their families. 

“I felt like this was a unique situation where the child gets the care; parents get comfort,” she said. Learning that families never received a bill from St. Jude for treatment made an even deeper impression. “That was very satisfying to me.” 

The work was emotionally demanding, but Anita remained inspired by the research happening around her and the possibility of better outcomes for future patients. Decades later, she has seen that progress firsthand. 

“It was just one big building when I was here in 1976,” she said. “Today, there’s a sea of buildings all over, with research, innovation and the hospital expansion happening across campus.”

In 2026, Anita returned to campus as a member of the Danny Thomas – St. Jude Society, revisiting the place where she completed her residency 50 years earlier. The experience reminded her of both how far St. Jude has come and the enduring connection she has carried with her throughout her life and career. 

Her connection to the mission did not end when she left Memphis. Together with her late husband, she began supporting St. Jude as a donor, contributing what they could afford and increasing their support over time. More than 30 years later, that commitment continues. 

That commitment is now becoming a multigenerational legacy of giving. 

After his father’s passing, Anita’s son, Ajit, became more involved in the charitable causes his parents supported. Over the past decade, conversations about family, philanthropy and shared values have brought mother and son closer together and deepened his appreciation for her connection to St. Jude.

A recent visit to campus further strengthened that bond. Joining his mother on campus, Ajit met patients and families and witnessed the institution’s growth firsthand. “I started to realize how important the work is,” he said. “This is how medical advances happen.”

Today, the family’s connection to St. Jude extends beyond Anita and Ajit. Anita’s daughter, Anila, is also part of a family legacy rooted in generosity, compassion and service.