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Groesbeck P. Parham, MD, has been recognized by the Zambian government as a leader in the fight against cancer.


The Zambia Ministry of Health has recognized seven cancer leaders for displaying distinguished service, outstanding performance and commitment to the fight against cancer. Zambian Health Minister, Chitalu Chilufya, flanked by his two permanent secretaries, Dr. Kennedy Malama for Technical Services and Ms. Kakulubelwa Mulalelo for Administration, conveyed gratitude to the team as their contribution in the health sector has improved service delivery in Zambia, a southern African country bordering Zimbabwe. Groesbeck Parham, MD, professor in the UNC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Senior Clinical Expert for the WHO Initiative to Eliminate Cervical Cancer, was one of the seven leaders awarded along with Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, Dr. Sharon Kapambwe, Dr. Susan Citonje Msadabwe, Dr. Catherine Mwaba, and Professor Mulindi Mwanahamuntu.

Groesbeck Parham, MD, is Director of the CIDRZ Cervical Cancer Prevention Program, professor of gynecologic oncology at UNC-Chapel Hill, and member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

A board-certified gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Parham completed his obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a urogynecology fellowship at the University of London and Khartoum Teaching Hospital in Sudan, and a gynecologic oncology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Parham moved to Lusaka, Zambia in 2005 to establish the CIDRZ Cervical Cancer Prevention Program. Before moving to Lusaka, he served as director of the divisions of gynecologic oncology at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science (Los Angeles, CA) and the University of Arkansas School of Medicine.