Shaping a legacy of education and training at St. Jude

Education and training are the bridge between curiosity and discovery. Building that bridge has been among the most important works of my career. For more than 28 years, I have been the Director of the Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) program at St. Jude, providing students with a hands-on research experience and mentorship in pediatric oncology.  

My career has taken me from the fast-paced world of industry to cutting-edge research institutions. These experiences shaped my approach to education and training, showing me the power of personalized guidance, the importance of listening and the impact of creating opportunities for others to thrive. 

From mentorship to leadership 

Soon after joining St. Jude as an Associate Member in Diagnostic Imaging in 1988, I found myself mentoring students. Every student brings unique strengths and curiosity to their work, and my role as a mentor is to help them discover how much they’re capable of. I always try to personalize my approach to guidance by listening, encouraging questions and connecting students with the right opportunities and people. It was during that time that I really started to realize how valuable creating such opportunities for students to learn from experts could be. I wanted students to be able to experience the full breadth of what St. Jude had to offer, and in 1997, I had the opportunity to take over as director of the POE program.  

When I first took over the program, it was a small operation with just a handful of students each year. At that time, we submitted applications on paper, and recruitment depended largely on word of mouth. Recognizing the potential to reach more students, I modernized our application process, built an online presence and broadened our recruitment channels. These changes allowed us to connect with a broader and more diverse group of students than ever before. 

Mentorship and collaboration at its core 

The true heart of the POE program is mentorship and collaboration. To further foster this collaborative spirit, I established the “lunch and learn” series, inviting faculty, postdocs and researchers from across St. Jude to share their knowledge. It’s been inspiring to see how willing our experts are to support the next generation and how students learn as much from each other as they do from their mentors.  

This collaborative approach extends beyond formal events. The POE program’s success is a team effort. While POE program coordinator James Marmion and I keep things moving, it’s the faculty, postdocs, graduate students and technical staff who work with students every day and make the experience truly transformative. Our collaborative spirit is what makes St. Jude and the POE program so special. 

Growth, impact and legacy 

As a result of these efforts, the POE program has flourished for many years. Student participation has grown; cohorts have become more diverse; and the program’s reputation for excellence has spread. The impact of the POE program is felt not only by its participants but also in the broader St. Jude community. Faculty and staff recognize the value of the program, and its influence can be seen in the institution’s commitment to education and training. 

Nearly 1,600 students have participated in the POE program. Most have gone on to become physicians, scientists and leaders. I’m especially proud of those who have returned to St. Jude as staff, faculty or postdocs, where they are now helping shape the next generation of researchers and clinicians. Seeing former students become mentors and leaders themselves is deeply rewarding, and it highlights the lasting impact of the POE program on both individuals and the broader St. Jude community. 

Education and training for future generations 

I view our POE program as my legacy, and I want it to continue to thrive. I’m grateful for the support of colleagues, whose partnership has been essential to the program’s success, and I’m excited to see new leaders step in to carry the mission forward. 

Education and training at St. Jude are a symbiotic effort, with programs working together to nurture talent and foster discovery. I am proud to have played a part in building the bridge between curiosity and discovery, and I look forward to seeing where that bridge leads the next generation.