A Career Defined by Global Impact and Lasting Change
For more than 16 years, Dr. Barry Rosen has played a central role in building gynecologic oncology capacity in Kenya through his work with Moi University. What began as a shared belief that women everywhere deserve access to high-quality cancer care has grown into a nationally transformative training program that is saving lives and reshaping women’s health care across the country.
Cancer remains a devastating reality in Kenya. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer affecting women, and cure rates remain tragically low. Many women receive little or no medical care and often die in their 40s, frequently leaving young families behind. In contrast, cervical cancer has become relatively uncommon in the United States, where early screening, treatment, and widespread HPV vaccination have led to high cure rates. While vaccination efforts in Kenya are still emerging, they are beginning to offer hope for a different future.
When the gynecologic oncology fellowship program launched in 2009, Kenya had no formally trained gynecologic oncologists. The first two fellows graduated in 2014. Since then, 18 additional physicians have completed the rigorous training. Today, these specialists are practicing throughout Kenya, delivering expert care for cervical and other gynecologic cancers—care that simply did not exist in the country a decade earlier.
In December, Dr. Rosen received a significant professional honor recognizing the impact of this work. The University of Toronto Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology established a fund in his name to support the continued growth and sustainability of the fellowship program. The fund ensures that future generations of physicians will receive advanced training and that women across Kenya will continue to gain access to lifesaving cancer care.
This achievement reflects the collective efforts of many supporters over the years. Dr. Rosen has consistently emphasized his gratitude to the colleagues and partners who helped make the program possible, including his college roommate, Warren Kimel, whose early and generous financial support helped launch the fellowship at a critical moment.
The most meaningful measure of the program’s success is its impact on patients and families. Across Kenya, women are now receiving specialized cancer care from physicians trained through this fellowship, improving outcomes and extending lives.
As Dr. Rosen approaches retirement from Corewell, his commitment to the program remains unwavering. He plans to stay actively involved, continuing to mentor, support, and advocate for the fellowship and its mission. For him, this work stands as one of the most rewarding chapters of a distinguished career—and one that will continue to shape lives for years to come.
To make a gift or to learn more, please visit the website: In Honor of Barry Rosen.