The St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program aims to increase diversity of the biomedical workforce by addressing inequities in K-16 STEMM education.
About St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program
A diverse biomedical workforce is essential to providing high quality patient care. Yet, women and people of color remain underrepresented in the biomedical workforce. These disparities are the result of persisting inequities in K-16 science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM) education that exclude women and people of color from biomedical career pathways, such as lack of culturally responsive pedagogy, lack of access and opportunity to participate in authentic STEMM learning, and lack of mentorship.
Our activities focus on addressing these inequities through:
School and educator partnerships
Out-of-School time (OST) science learning opportunities
to gain political commitment, policy support, social acceptance and system support to address inequities in 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 incorporate the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion into talent sourcing, hiring, career development, promotion and retention, and community outreach.
By the Numbers
The St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program sponsored 11 student interns. Of the interns, 27% were African American/Black, and 56% were White/Caucasian (Non-Hispanic).
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!
Partnerships
Memphis STEM in Medicine Ecosystem
The STEMM Education and Outreach Program is a member of the Memphis STEM in Medicine Ecosystem, a city-wide initiative aimed at addressing inequities in STEM education specific to the Memphis area.
School Partnerships
The St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program partners with schools to provide access and opportunities for youth to engage in authentic STEMM learning experience during the school day and through out-of-school time programming.
Partner Elementary Schools
Willow Oaks Elementary
Whitehaven Elementary
Oakshire Elementary
Treadwell Elementary
Vollentine Elementary
Dexter Elementary
William H. Brewster Elementary
John P. Freeman Elementary
Jackson Elementary
Snowden Elementary
Campus School
Germantown Elementary
Double Tree Elementary
Sea Isle Elementary
Downtown Elementary
Belle Forest Elementary
Cummings Elementary
Idlewild Elementary
Peabody Elementary
Shelby Oaks Elementary
Kingsbury Elementary
Wells Station Elementary
Double Tree Elementary
Grahamwood Elementary
Macon Hall Elementary
Southern Ave. Charter
Cordova Elementary
White Station Elementary
Delan Elementary
Alcy Elementary
Rivercrest Elementary
Partner Middle Schools
John P. Freeman Middle
Snowden Middle
Bellevue Middle
Sherwood Middle
Havenview Middle
Partner High Schools
Bartlett High School
Central High School
Crosstown High School
Memphis Business Academy High School
Middle College High School
Medical District High School
Memphis School of Excellence – Winchester
Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering
Memphis East T-STEM Academy
Mississippi School for Science and Mathematics, Columbus, MS
Hillcrest High School, Springfield, MO Public Schoolse
Glendale High School, Springfield, MO Public Schools
Supporting foundational literacy skills through interdisciplinary studies
Wolfe H, et al. Literacy Innovations 2023
Identity across the STEM ecosystem: Perspectives of youth, informal educators, and classroom teachers
Wade-Jaimes K et al. JRST 2022
The St. Jude STEM Clubs: An afterschool STEM club for upper elementary school students in Memphis, TN
Ayers KA, et al. Journal of STEM Outreach, 2020
Evaluation of the St. Jude Cancer Education for Children Program on Cancer Risk Awareness, Attitudes, and Behavioral Intentions Among Fourth-Grade Science Students: Comparisons Between Racially Identifiable/High-Poverty Schools and Racially Diverse/Afflue
Ayers KA, et al. Journal of Cancer Education 2020
The St. Jude Cancer Education for Children Program: The Impact of a Teacher-led Intervention of Student Knowledge Gains.
Ayers KA et al, Journal of Cancer Education 2017
The St. Jude Cancer Education for Children Program Pilot Study: Determining the Knowledge Acquisition and Retention of 4th-Grade Students
