A Short Life with a Lasting Impact
In 1987, when James B. Powell Jr. was just 17 months old, he was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a common but lethal childhood brain tumor. His parents, Anne and James B. Powell, MD, ‘64, HS’65, brought him to Duke for treatment, and the family was at Duke constantly until James Jr.’s death 10 weeks later.
A bright spot in those 10 weeks was Henry Friedman, MD. “We were overwhelmed with Henry Friedman and how compassionate, dedicated, and skilled he was,” Anne Powell says. “He was always available for us and made what was a very difficult situation tolerable.
“Henry was at a point where he was qualified to become a full professor. We wanted to help make that happen so he wouldn’t go anywhere else. We felt that endowing a professorship was the best way to keep Jimmy’s memory alive and at the same time recognize the quality of care he received at Duke.”
James Powell felt strongly that he wanted to ensure that Duke is the best it can be. “As a graduate of Duke University Medical School, I am interested in the school retaining its status as one of the finest in the country. Many of the achievements of world-class leaders in medicine like Henry would not be possible without endowed professorship funds,” he says.
Jimmy was the Powells’ first son together. “We were blessed to have three other children, one of which was on the way at the time of diagnosis,” Anne Powell says. “Even though his siblings did not know Jimmy, I think that their lives have been touched by his presence.” All of her children are involved in health care. Helen is a medical student, Ross plans to attend medical school, and John Banks works for a health care company in New York City.
The Powells serve on the Duke Cancer Institute Board of Advisors and are founding members of the advisory board of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. Anne Powell is still an active member. “The board meetings are life-changing,” she says. “It’s truly like a family. It was 30 years ago that Jimmy died, but I’ve stayed connected with our group, and I value this association.”
Meet the James B. Powell Jr. Professor of Pediatric Oncology