That is the difference between St. Jude’s and all other children’s hospitals. The other hospitals are not bad at all; they’re good hospitals, but they’re just working with what they know, and St. Jude’s is working with what nobody else knows, because they’re doing research.

In simple terms, the quote highlights a distinctive characteristic of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital compared to other children’s hospitals. It suggests that while all hospitals are generally good at providing necessary care and treatments based on established knowledge, St. Jude’s stands out because it focuses on groundbreaking research to address medical challenges that others have not yet tackled.

Beyond its surface meaning, the quote underscores the importance of innovation in healthcare, especially for pediatric patients facing complex illnesses. Marlo Thomas's words suggest that while conventional hospitals provide essential services and treatments based on existing knowledge, St. Jude’s takes a step further by pushing boundaries through research to discover new therapies and cures. This innovative approach aims to improve patient outcomes and contribute to the broader medical community.

Marlo Thomas, known for her work as an actress, author, director, producer, and philanthropist, is the daughter of entertainer Danny Thomas. She is best recognized for hosting the long-running NBC series "The Dating Game" in the 1960s and for her role in promoting St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital through her work with her father and later as a spokesperson for the organization.