Dr. Kent W. Jolly

Annina and Dr. Jolly (Photo taken by R. Hanlon.)

A hero has compassion, knowledge, commitment, and understanding. A hero works to improve the lives of others and sets a good example. If there is anyone who fits this definition, it is Dr. Kent W. Jolly. His compassion toward his patients, his knowledge of their diseases, his understanding of their worries, and his commitment to being available for his patients make Dr. Jolly an amazing person, and my hero.

Dr. Jolly is a physician in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology department at Kaiser Permanente in Roseville, CA, where he demonstrates his compassion, knowledge, commitment and understanding in his care for sick children. I had the privilege to become one of Dr. Jolly’s patients in June of 2009 when I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. He expertly guided my family through the worst time of our lives, helping us understand treatment plans as well as medication options for nausea and other side effects of very harsh chemotherapy treatments. But I am only one of Dr. Jolly’s many patients. With a team of three other pediatric oncologists, he follows about 40 children at any given time who are currently on chemotherapy and about 250 others who are off therapy (like me) and just have follow-up appointments. Dr. Jolly meets with patients in the clinic and in the hospital, answering questions and helping worried children and parents navigate through the darkness surrounding their lives.

The amazing doctor I know today once considered becoming a teacher, but decided to go to medical school after being accepted to the University of California, San Francisco. During his medical training, Dr. Jolly found that he was very sympathetic to sick children. He decided to specialize in pediatric oncology because he wanted to help children who, with great care and treatment, could get better. Today, Dr. Jolly is still inspired by the stories of childhood cancer survivors who, despite what they had to endure going through cancer treatment at young ages, went on to lead successful lives. His overwhelming desire to help children not only comes through in his work, where he is committed to improving the lives of children undergoing the hardship of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and transplants, but also in his volunteer work. He volunteers as a doctor at Camp Okizu, a camp for kids who have or had cancer and also volunteers in the infirmary of Camp Hemotion. He serves on the Okizu Foundation board and the Central California Hemophilia Foundation board, and has also fundraised for and served on the local board of the Make-a-Wish Foundation for 10 years.

The way Dr. Jolly preforms his job as a doctor goes above and beyond expectations. He inspires me to always work to the best of my abilities. His strength to help sick and dying children while keeping a positive attitude reminds me to look on the bright side of situations and to keep moving forward. His knowledge and the way he is making a difference in the lives of children motivates me to find my passion and make a difference in the same way he does.

Dr. Kent W. Jolly is a hero in every way and I feel lucky to know him. With his compassion, knowledge, commitment and understanding, Dr. Jolly is like sunlight in the middle of a storm. He has greatly inspired me, and I’m sure that as he continues his work and volunteering, he will inspire many more.