St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Appoints Dr. Charles W.M. Roberts as New CEO
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has named Dr. Charles W.M. Roberts as its new president and chief executive officer, effective January 1. Dr. Roberts, who previously served as the director of St. Jude’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and an executive vice president, will succeed Dr. James R. Downing, who led the nonprofit for 12 years and will transition to a faculty role in the hospital’s Global Pediatric Medicine department. Judy Habib, chair of the St. Jude Board of Governors, highlighted Dr. Roberts's emphasis on new treatment discoveries as a key factor in his selection following a global search. Dr. Roberts plans to continue his research, which includes work on genes that suppress tumor growth, alongside his new leadership responsibilities. The hospital, founded in 1962 by Danny Thomas, has seen childhood cancer survival rates increase from approximately 20% to over 80% today, with Dr. Roberts expressing optimism for future advancements towards easily treatable childhood cancers. 
