Isabel Mestres: What do Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King Jr., and Danny Thomas have in common?
Isabel Mestres, CEO of the City Cancer Challenge, shared on LinkedIn:
“What do Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King Jr., and Danny Thomas have in common? The City of Memphis—and bold dreams to make the world a better place. Each, in their own way, left a legacy of transformation: through music, justice, and hope for children.
Last week, I had the privilege of joining the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – ALSAC Global Alliance meeting in Memphis, a city that embodies resilience and innovation. There, a global community of pediatricians, oncologists, caregivers, and advocates came together with one goal: to ensure every child with cancer, no matter where they are born, has a chance to survive.
But the reality remains stark. Three-quarters of childhood cancer cases—and nearly 85% of cancer-related deaths in children—occur in Africa and Asia. While most children survive in high-income countries, for too many, it still depends on their race, socio-economic status, or birthplace.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has been a beacon of hope for decades. As the first fully integrated hospital in the South, it broke racial barriers, proving that care should never depend on color or circumstance. Today, Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo and his team are taking that legacy global—one partnership, one institution, and one child at a time.
For the City Cancer Challenge, partnering with the St. Jude Global is a crucial step forward. Together, we are working to close gaps in childhood cancer care, bringing the best global knowledge to our cities and ensuring no child’s future is defined by where they are born.
Learn more about the St. Jude Global Alliance.”
Isabel Mestres is the CEO of the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), previously being the Director of Global Public Affairs. She also led initiatives in membership and partnership development at the International Union for Cancer Control. Mestres’ strategic sense positions her to propel C/Can forward, advancing its mission of enhancing cancer care accessibility in low- and middle-income nations.
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