How a young doctor came to love Memphis and St. Jude. And, along the way, changed the world.
Dr. Justin Baker, a St. Jude palliative care physician, also leads the QoLA "quality of life for all” team. The QoLA team’s mascot is a koala bear, and Baker often wears a koala costume while visiting patients. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian file)
Geoff Calkins
Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. He is host of "The Geoff Calkins Show" from 9-11 a.m. M-F on 92.9 FM. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is.
Dr. Justin Baker never intended to stay nearly 20 years in Memphis. But he came to love both the city and his work at St. Jude Children’s Research hospital. Now he’s is leaving for Stanford — but not before sharing some lessons he learned along the way.
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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Dr. Justin Baker palliative care pediatric palliative care Stanford Marc Gasol Memphis Geoff Calkins Subscriber Only2025 is almost over. Now is the time to support your trusted local news source.
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