Page 16 - Dad's St Jude Projecy

By Sarah Pratt

We came to Memphis in January of 1965. Charles told me it was for
two years!

But a little background is needed. When Charles finished medical
school at the University of Maryland in 1955, and had served his
one year of internship at the Medical College of Virginia in
Richmond, he entered the army for his two years of service. He

spent the second year in France, in Verdun, taking care of the
medical needs of the offspring of US soldiers stationed there. That
is how he got into pediatrics.

When he returned, and started his residency at Babies Hospital, of

Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, in New York, we got married.
( We had known each other since we were teenagers ) . We stayed on
in New York for an extra year so that Charles could help with some
studies in pediatric cancer. But we didn't feel we could afford to

stay on after that; so that is when Charles decided to open a
practice in general pediatrics in Richmond.

About three years later, when Charles heard about St Jude, he felt he
had to go to Memphis to see it. And he was hired by Don Pinkel to
conduct a drug study. He did not see patients for the first two years.

But after that he agreed to see patients, and the rest is history. He
could not have been happier with his work anywhere else.

But your question pertained to memories of St Jude in its early days.
The total number of employees then could be fit into the Pinkel

living room, and often was. Marita took the time to check on us
frequently, to make us feel like a part of the St Jude group. The
hospital owes her many thanks for helping to put down the roots
necessary for it to grow

And the staff had come from all over the world. What a fantastic

group of friends to have.