By Dan Hounsell

Healthcare organizations are slowly emerging from the year-long COVID-19 pandemic. They are assessing options as they gradually resume postponed services and tentatively investigate opportunities for and expansion. Then there is St. Jude’s.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis is launching a six-year, $11.5 billion expansion to improve research and advance clinical treatment for children, according to .

The strategic plan will focus on expanding patient care, as well as clinical and lab research for catastrophic illnesses in children, such as cancer, blood disorders and neurological diseases. 

St. Jude said it plans to add 1,400 jobs and spend at least $1.9 billion on new construction. 

In addition to new construction, St. Jude's strategic plan includes spending $3.7 billion on cancer-focused research and clinical care, $1.1 billion to research catastrophic illnesses like sickle cell disease and $250 million to upgrade technology and resources.