Creativity and Heart in Science- Dr. Audrey Evans

I was excited to see “Audrey’s Children” this past weekend. I’m not going to lie. Part of it was filmed on my block, so I was curious!  A few years ago,  my street was lined with classic 60’s cars. It was pretty cool! I didn’t know much about  the story of Dr, Audrey Evans ( 1925-2022),  the first woman Chief of Pediatric Oncology at the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania, but I do now!

I had forgotten all about the filming. But what a story!!

Beautifully portrayed  by Natalie Dormer, Dr. Evans’ intelligence, persistence, and compassionate heart made her unstoppable as a force to be reckoned with. How  the world ( and I) did not know about her, is amazing.

The film takes place in 1969 Philly, when she came to CHOP with some very unique and creative ideas. She wanted to change treatments for neuroblastoma by using two medications, instead of one. In the process, she categorizes the stages of the cancer (no one had done that before) using index cards.  She also figures out that treatments can be more specific. There was only a 10% survival rate back then. (Now it’s 80%).

It wasn’t easy for her—in the male dominated field, she was met with resistance—they didn’t want to listen to her. And she didn’t always like following  protocol.

She did have some allies. Dr. Dan  D’Angio (played by Jimmi Simpson)) became one of her early supporters.   Eventually, she won over Dr. C Everett Koop, her supervisor (played by Clancy Brown), when her experiments worked.  Dr. Koop became our Surgeon General in 1981. He was instrumental in talking about the dangers of smoking and took an aggressive stance to fight AIDS.

Audrey’s mission was to help “her” children by any means possible, including pushing her way into meetings and boldly asking people for help, in a time when a woman alone couldn’t even get a bank loan.  She was also an advocate for the children’s families as they struggled to find funds and lodging while their kids were receiving treatment.

This is a real Philadelphia story and one that incorporates some beautiful and historic settings, like City Hall and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Even the Eagles make it into the film! Of course they do!

And, of course, there’s  my street—St. James Place!. Her residence in the film was just a few doors down from mine (she didn’t really live there), and in one of the opening scenes  you can clearly see the grey stone railings of my building as she walks down the block.

And there was a strong spiritual side to Dr.Evans. She  felt she had been called to devote her life to this purpose and she wasn’t going to let anything get in her way. Bravo to the movie makers, who did justice to her honor. And thank you Audrey, for the inspiration!