Making the Cancer Cells Go Away

Don Coulter wasn’t considering a career in childhood cancer research until a 12-year-old girl changed his mind. He went from her hospital room to the lab, where her doctor asked Coulter to look through the microscope, “These are the cancer cells that are killing this patient and we’re going to make them go away.”

From that moment, making the cancer cells go away, and saving children like her, became Coulter’s passion.

But, why is Don Coulter’s career important?

• In 2005, when the Foundation was founded, there was a projected shortage of pediatric oncologists
• Coulter is one of 60 St. Baldrick’s Fellows and 38 St. Baldrick’s Scholars to receive 2-5 years of funding for these years of specialty training – years that are necessary to become a pediatric oncology researcher
• Pediatric oncology is not one of medicine’s most lucrative careers and newer researchers find it especially difficult to get funding
• The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is training the next generation of researchers – ensuring there are always bright doctors searching for a cure

“I’m so honored to have been one of the first St. Baldrick’s Fellows and grateful for the fact that they got me started on this path,” shares Coulter. “Without St. Baldrick’s, I would not be a pediatric oncologist who does research. I am 100% sure of that.”

Read more about Dr. Coulter’s research.

This is one of St. Baldrick’s Childhood Cancer Research Outcomes. Learn about the rest.