Rapid Adaptation of Childhood Cancer Care Globally | Nickhill Bhakta | TEDxMemphis

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07/03/23

In the United States and other developed countries, the survival rate from childhood cancer has climbed dramatically in the past 50 years, from 20% survival to now 80%. It’s a modern miracle of medical science. But Dr. Nickhill Bhakta explains that, even as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital celebrates this achievement, they know children’s cancer is not highly curable worldwide. In developing countries – where health systems may be fragile, where access to care is limited and malnutrition may be rampant – how do we improve survival rates? He describes global collaboration to adapt care for all. Nickhill Bhakta, MD, MPH is an assistant member in the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Dr. Bhakta came to St. Jude in 2013 as a Clinical Fellow in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. In 2016, he joined the faculty of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to lead two programs. As Director of the Sub-Saharan Africa Region, Dr. Bhakta coordinates St. Jude Global capacity building efforts in the region. Additionally, as Director of the Disease Burden and Simulation Unit, Dr. Bhakta has developed an epidemiology research program focusing on global disease burden, cancer survivorship, and cost-effectiveness.

Dr. Bhakta earned his bachelor’s degree with honors in history from Brown University, medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and master’s in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx