The Cancer History Project is proud to publish de novo “Backwater to Blockbuster,” which chronicles the untold story of the explosive growth of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Told in intimate detail by two long-standing faculty members and institutional leaders, Charles J. Sherr and William E. Evans, “Backwater to Blockbuster” charts the surprising evolution of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital from its humble beginnings in Memphis, TN, to become the largest medical charity in America.
The book is available as a free download below, as a PDF or e-book. A podcast featuring Sherr and Evans is available on the Cancer History Project Podcast and a story about the podcast appears in The Cancer Letter.
Spawned by the vision of its founder, Hollywood entertainer Danny Thomas, children with catastrophic diseases received free healthcare, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or economic means, at a research institution dedicated to improving their treatment.
St. Jude propelled innovative clinical trials that achieved the first cures of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and advanced treatments of other pediatric cancers.
As the only comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute and solely devoted to children, St. Jude expanded its outreach to achieve a global impact in treating childhood cancer.
This is a story about what can happen when talented people, fueled by unwavering public support, join together for worthy purposes and immerse themselves in an environment that cultivates their ideals and accelerates their work.
