Audrey Evans, MD, led a remarkable life that forever changed the field of pediatric oncology, and transformed the conventions of care for sick children. She did so at a time when women doctors were a rarity and navigating the limitations of sexism was commonplace.
In 1969, Dr. Evans became the first Chief of the Division of Oncology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She is known as the “Mother of Neuroblastoma” because of her breakthroughs in treating this rare form of cancer. In addition to her research and clinical innovations, Dr. Evans also advanced the field of integrative medicine, committed to treating not just a child’s medical issues but their social, emotional and spiritual needs as well. In 1974, she co-founded the first Ronald McDonald House, in Philadelphia, providing a supportive “home away from home” for families of hospitalized children.
Dr. Evans, who died in 2022 at the age of 97, once said, “I was given a mission, and the ability to serve it. To make a difference in the lives of children.” Now, a fictionalized movie, "Audrey's Children," charts her early struggles in medical school, highlights her tenacious, inspiring journey to treat pediatric cancer and tells the story of the many lives she touched along the way.
Early life and career
Audrey Evans was born in 1925 in York, United Kingdom. She suffered from tuberculosis as a child, and from an early age wanted to be a doctor. During World War II, she enrolled at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the only female student at the medical school. By 1953 she received a fellowship to travel to the United States as a Fullbright Scholar at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Evans believed that, as a woman, more opportunities existed for her to practice pediatric medicine in the U.S. “I didn’t always get the job,” she liked to say, “But I always got in the room.” She worked at several children’s hospitals around the U.S. before CHOP Chief Surgeon C. Everett Koop, MD, future U.S. Surgeon General, appointed her Chief of the Division of Oncology in 1969, a position she held for 20 years. At the time she was hired, women in the U.S. still could not open a bank account or hold a credit card in their own name.
Pioneering treatments and advances
In 1971, Dr. Evans developed a staging system for neuroblastoma, which at the outset assessed a patient’s age, location and state of the tumor. This allowed for targeted, specialized care and revolutionized how the disease was diagnosed and treated. Under her leadership, neuroblastoma mortality rates dropped by 50%.
Dr. Evans also became one of the first to fight for treating pediatric cancers with chemotherapy, a practice considered unethical and inconceivable at the time. John M. Maris, MD, studied under Dr. Evans and is now a pediatric oncologist at CHOP who holds the Giulio D'Angio Chair in Neuroblastoma Research. He recalls that Dr. Evans met fierce resistance from her male colleagues, who asked, “Why poison the children when there’s no chance they would live?” Her steadfast belief in the treatability of pediatric cancers continues to leave a lasting impact on children worldwide. As Dr. Maris says, “She was a driving force in leading the revolution that changed childhood cancer from being a nearly uniformly fatal disease, to one where we cure 80% of patients.”
Helping children and their families
Dr. Evans centered the children in all aspects of her work, prioritizing not just their clinical care but their emotional and psychological needs as well. “No one in the medical world would talk to kids about dying, for Pete’s sake,” she said. “You don’t want to frighten them, but if it’s going to happen and they know it’s happening, you might give them the courage and knowledge to move on to the next life.”
She also recognized, long before anyone else, that families needed a welcoming space to recharge as they cared for their sick children – a place where they could get a hot meal and find community with other families facing similar challenges. In co-founding the first Ronald McDonald House, she gave families that safe haven. And over 50 years, the charity has grown to offer more than 1,000 programs in 62 countries.
Her inspirational story in film
The release of "Audrey's Children" coincides with the celebration of Dr. Evans’s 100th birthday, in March 2025. It will feature key moments from her career, including her struggles as one of the only women in medical school, her groundbreaking research and the creation of the Ronald McDonald House. The film also delves into her personal life, showcasing her relationships with patients and the doctors she mentored.
“Audrey's story is one of resilience, innovation and empathy,” says the film's director, Sarah Lee. “We hope to honor her legacy and introduce her incredible contributions to a wider audience.” Thanks to her research and philanthropy, Dr. Audrey Evans’s influence will be felt for generations in the lives of patients, parents and families around the world. Her story is a testament to the impact one person can have through dedication, drive and compassion.
Watch the trailer for "Audrey's Children"
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