The Ride For Roswell

Dr. Zsiros's Story

In the lab and on a bike – Dr. Zsiros’s dedication to helping end cancer

Dr. Emese Zsiros is an unstoppable force in the fight against cancer.

Growing up in Budapest, Hungary, with a trauma surgeon and an intensive care anesthesiologist as parents, she witnessed first-hand the power of medicine. The medical field was calling her name and so she answered it.

After earning her medical degree from the University of Debrecen in Hungary, she attended Northwestern University in Chicago to complete her OB/GYN residency. In 2014, she joined the medical team at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center with two goals: providing state-of-the-art clinical care in a caring, compassionate and patient-centered clinical environment and continuing cancer immunotherapy research. Currently, she is an associate professor of oncology, director of research at the department of gynecologic oncology and associate program director of fellowships in gynecologic oncology.

Did we mention she’s also a mother of four and a dedicated Ride for Roswell rider?

There’s not much that Dr. Zsiros can’t do. And it all stems from her passion to make a difference for her patients.

Her ride for Roswell experience

2021 will be Dr. Zsiros’s seventh Ride for Roswell. Throughout the years, she rode with different teams, including the Center for Immunotherapy and now her family of 6. Her favorite part about the Ride is getting to do it alongside her patients.

“I feel very emotional and humbled to be a part of this experience, especially when I get to see my patients,” Dr. Zsiros said. “They are so proud to carry the flag [at the Celebration of Hope]. They tell me, ‘I am here because of your department and clinical trials.’

“And I tell them, ‘I am here to show support, but also my time and money.’ I want to make it better for women coming after me.”

To her and her husband, Dr. Gyorgy Paragh who is head of the department of dermatology, they look forward to the Ride every year to remind them both how important the work they do is.

“It motivates us to keep pushing boundaries, moving forward and trying new ideas and treatments to advance cancer care.”

As for her favorite memory, Dr. Zsiros loves getting to experience the ride with her four children.

“[When we cross] the finish line with our little children riding with their training wheels, I really need to cheer them along because they get so tired and exhausted. But to see their pride when they cross that finish line and everyone cheering and congratulating them, they feel accomplished that we did something great that we didn’t think was possible and that reminds me of my daily job.

“It’s tough, but once we cross a certain finish line, it’s really wonderful.”

Make an impact with Dr. Zsiros and her family this summer at the Ride for roswell