Physician Excellence in Cancer Care Awards
We are thrilled to have celebrated the first annual Physician Excellence in Cancer Care Awards — a night dedicated to honoring the heart, science and leadership of the physicians of Roswell Park.
Nominated by their peers, these physicians exemplify the highest standards of care and research, while serving as mentors and inspirations to their colleagues across the organization.
Rooted in our institution’s long-standing commitment to tailoring treatment to the individual, this award recognizes a physician who consistently delivers exceptional, precise, and evidence-based care. Their clinical judgment and patient outcomes raise the bar for excellence.
"Dr. Moshim Kukar maintains a true standard of excellence across all categories; he is respectful, determined, efficient, compassionate and expects 100% effort to his patients from himself and his team. Under his leadership, Roswell Park has become one of the nation’s highest-volume centers for robotic gastroesophageal surgery and the only center outside NYC offering a robotic approach to pancreaticoduodenectomy.”
This nomination celebrates bold leadership that mirrors Roswell Park’s historic firsts — from becoming a designated comprehensive cancer center, to advancing public health. This physician drives change, challenges the status quo, and leads with clarity and courage.
"Dr. Emese Zsiros has a rare and remarkable ability to transform vision into reality. She listens intently, understands deeply, and responds with thoughtful, decisive action. She identifies challenges, formulates solutions, and executes them with precision and grace. Even before taking the reins of our department, she demonstrated bold vision and innovation.”
This award honors a physician whose compassion reflects the spirit of Roswell Park’s founding — a bold belief that cancer care could and should be done differently. This honoree brings humanity, hope, and heart to every patient interaction, embodying our commitment to treating the whole person.
"Dr. Desi Carozza redefines what compassionate cancer care looks like in clinical practice. Her empathy and insight extend beyond patients and families — she is a trusted resource for her physician colleagues as well. She has wonderful intuition with patients as far as eliciting their values and aligning with them.”
This award honors a physician whose research efforts reflect the same transformative impact as the scientific milestones achieved here — from early chemotherapy development to immunotherapy leadership. Their work opens new doors for treatment, cures, and hope.
"Dr. Grace Dy's dedication to research, leadership in clinical trials and commitment to patient education have profoundly shaped the landscape of lung cancer treatment, ushering in an era of personalized and increasingly effective therapies. Her focus extends to phase I clinical trials, which lay the groundwork for identifying the safe and effective dosages for new drugs.”
Inspired by our multidisciplinary care model, this physician reflects the belief that cancer is best fought by teams. This award honors a physician whose collaborative spirit strengthens clinical teams, research partnerships, and patient-centered care by building trust and shared purpose.
