For 90 years, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University has transformed cancer research and care. Celebrate the people who made it possible and the lives we’ve touched as we accelerate our progress and advance our mission to realize a future without cancer.
For nine decades, Winship Cancer Institute has advanced cancer research and care while helping patients and their families experience more of life’s meaningful moments.
Generations of people have shaped Winship into what it is today, advancing scientific discovery, prevention and treatment while strengthening community outreach, education and survivorship.
Robert W. Woodruff with his mother, Emily.
In 1937, Robert W. Woodruff, then president of The Coca-Cola Company, made his first gift to Emory University: $50,000 to establish the Robert Winship Memorial Clinic. Inspired by the loss of his mother, Emily Winship Woodruff, to cancer, Woodruff transformed personal grief into a vision for better cancer care in Georgia.
His mother had traveled to New York for cancer treatment, an experience that inspired Woodruff to envision a place where Georgians could receive leading cancer care closer to home and physicians and researchers could work together to improve treatment. The clinic became the foundation of a lifelong commitment to advancing cancer care.
Winship’s first director, Dr. Elliott Scarborough, led the clinic at a time when cancer was rarely discussed openly. He worked to educate the public about the disease and expand the clinic into a state-of-the-art center capable of treating thousands of patients each year.
Thanks to Woodruff’s vision, the longstanding support of the Robert W. Woodruff Fund Inc. and the commitment of countless others, Winship has continued to grow in its reach, impact and service to the people of Georgia.
Today, Winship is fulfilling Woodruff’s vision of a world-class cancer center. But our 90th anniversary is about more than looking back. It is an opportunity to look ahead to the discoveries, advances and possibilities that will shape the next era of cancer research and care.
Together, we can build on 90 years of progress and help define what comes next in cancer research and care, creating a future with better treatments, better outcomes and more of life’s moments for people facing cancer.
As part of Winship’s 90th anniversary celebration, we want to hear from everyone who has been part of our history, including patients, families, donors, volunteers, advocates, faculty, staff and friends. Through a simple video storytelling platform, you can record and submit a short video about your Winship experience.
Whether Winship has touched your life personally or professionally, your voice is an important part of our legacy and our future. By sharing your story, you can highlight the hope, innovation and human connection that drive Winship forward every day. Participating is easy and no advance preparation is needed. As you start to tell your story, the system will guide you by asking questions along the way. Best of all, you can record a video whenever and wherever it is convenient for you, from your phone, tablet or computer. You can also visit one of our on-site story booths at various Emory Healthcare locations throughout 2027.
We hope you will help us celebrate our 90th anniversary milestone by sharing your experience and inspiring the discoveries, advances and hope that will define Winship’s future.
