St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, ALSAC Announce Chairs of Boards of Directors and Governors

Camille F. Sarrouf, Jr., a partner of the Boston-based law firm Sarrouf Law, LLP, and James B. Barkate, president and CEO of New Orleans-based real estate research firm Southern Abstracts, Inc., have been elected to serve as chairs of the St. Jude and ALSAC Boards respectively, effective July 1, 2017. Mr. Sarrouf and Mr. Barkate previously served as first vice chairs of the St. Jude and ALSAC Boards. The members of the ALSAC/St. Jude Boards of Directors and Governors are volunteers who serve without compensation and provide governance and strategic oversight for both ALSAC and St. Jude.

Mr. Sarrouf has been a member of the ALSAC/St. Jude Boards of Directors and Governors since 2003.

As chair of the St. Jude Board of Governors, Mr. Sarrouf will oversee governance of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is in the midst of a six-year, $7 billion strategic plan to accelerate progress toward curing childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Through this ambitious plan, St. Jude is expanding clinical care and research programs in Memphis and around the world. The strategy focuses on setting the standard for patient care and experience; pushing for novel discoveries in emerging areas; and leading the way to improve care globally. Near-term goals include increasing the number of patients treated on St. Jude protocols, establishing a cancer immunotherapy program and further incorporating precision medicine into clinical care. In the coming months, St. Jude will welcome the first class to its graduate school in biomedical sciences as well as bolster its international reach through a new program, St. Jude Global. 

"The support and guidance of the ALSAC/St. Jude Boards of Directors and Governors help drive our institution as we accelerate progress in advancing cures for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases," said James R. Downing, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Jude. "Camille and Jim have long served as ambassadors for the St. Jude mission, and their leadership will be invaluable as St. Jude expands its reach around the globe."

Mr. Barkate has been a member of the ALSAC/St. Jude Boards of Directors and Governors since 1997.

Founded five years before St. Jude Children's Research Hospital opened its doors in 1962, ALSAC is the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. As chair of the ALSAC Board of Directors, Mr. Barkate will provide oversight to an organization responsible for raising 75 percent of the funds necessary to operate St. Jude from generous supporters around the world. These funds allow St. Jude to embark upon innovative research and invent pioneering treatments for some of the most aggressive childhood cancers, and ensure that no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. ALSAC also stewards and promotes the St. Jude brand. Among its growing list of brand accolades, St. Jude was awarded the distinction of Health Non-Profit Brand of the Year for four consecutive years in the 2014-2017 Harris Poll EquiTrend^® Equity Score.

"We are thrilled to have Jim and Camille lead the ALSAC/St. Jude Boards of Directors and Governors," said Richard Shadyac, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of ALSAC. "I join everyone at ALSAC in congratulating them both and look forward to working with these servant leaders as we continue raising the funds and awareness that will enable St. Jude to save the lives of children around the world fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases."

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. To learn more, visit stjude.org or follow the hospital on Twitter and Instagram at @stjuderesearch.

SOURCE ALSAC / St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Related Links

https://www.stjude.org