St. Jude president and CEO on 40-plus years at a global icon: ‘Pursuit of science is the pursuit of truth’
Dt. James Downing, center, is stepping down as president and CEO of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital after 12 years in the position. (The Daily Memphian file)
When Dr. James Downing first arrived on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s campus more than four decades ago, he wasn’t impressed.
The place was too tiny. There was a little star-shaped building, a seven-story glass building behind that and several one-story buildings and trailers near a gravel parking lot.
He was glad he was wrong about his first impressions of St. Jude.
“I walked through those doors, and it was a culture like I had never experienced before,” Downing said Thursday, Feb. 19, hours after announcing he was stepping down as president and CEO at the end of the year after 12 years in the position.
The Daily Memphian asked Downing about changes he’s seen in his career, the challenges of advocating for scientific research and fundraising and where St. Jude is headed. The conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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Dr. James Downing St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Department of Global Pediatric Medicine Subscriber OnlyThank you for being a subscriber to The Daily Memphian. Your support is critical.
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Steve Bohnel
Steve Bohnel is a Temple University graduate, originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He’s worked at news organizations in Iowa, Maryland and Pittsburgh, covering local and state politics. He covers health care, transportation and logistics, public companies, banking and finance and technology. He is an avid traveler, an Everton F.C. and Philadelphia sports fan, and likes collecting records and biking around town.
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