Memphis, Tenn.-based St. Jude Children's Research Hospital named its principal research tower after the hospital's first medical director, Donald Pinkel, MD.
Here are five things to know about Dr. Pinkel.
1. Under his leadership, the facility pioneered Total Therapy, a treatment strategy combining multiple anticancer drugs with each study building on the success of its predecessor. The hospital currently uses Total Therapy XVI to treat children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, one of the most common forms of pediatric cancer, according to the report.
2. Dr. Pinkel served as the hospital's medical director since its founding in 1962 until 1973.
3. He received the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award for research in combination therapy for lymphoma and acute leukemia, according to the report.
4. The research tower will be used for translational research investigations and will house an array of scientific programs.
5. "Dr. Pinkel rebelled against conventional wisdom and challenged current thoughts and practice," said James Downing, MD, president and CEO of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "The dedication of this building is a testament to the strong foundation he created for St. Jude and his refusal to accept the status quo. This spirit remains a part of St. Jude today."