“Dr. Kelly,
thank you for helping and saving my life.”
Those are the words that pediatric cancer survivor Sophia Baudo yelled across the main lobby of Roswell Park after she rang the Victory Bell, signifying the end of treatment.
Kara Kelly, MD, is the Waldemar J. Kaminski Endowed Chair of Pediatrics at Roswell Park and leads a team solely focused on the care of pediatric patients. During the All Star Night gala in November 2025, Dr. Kelly was honored with the Dr. Thomas B. Tomasi Award, a distinction that recognizes a Roswell Park faculty member who has spearheaded groundbreaking research and brought significant hope to cancer patients. That recognition puts the spotlight on her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to finding better, less toxic treatments to care for Roswell Park’s youngest patients.
Roswell Park stands apart from the pack when it comes to pediatric cancer care and research. We are one of only three centers in the country with a collaborative program structure …. collaboration with pediatric partners allows young patients to stay close to home while receiving highly specialized care. Families no longer need to leave Western New York to pursue advanced therapies or clinical trials.
“Being able to tell parents that they don’t have to travel far for hope — that matters. It keeps families together at the moments when they need each other most.”
Even more, Roswell Park is the only institution in the region where pediatric cancer care is fully integrated with world-class cancer research. For families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis, that distinction can mean access to innovative therapies, clinical trials and discoveries that are shaping the future of treatment. Donations ensure those discoveries are not happening someday but right now. Roswell Park’s research-driven approach ensures children are receiving the best care available while benefiting from breakthroughs that will improve survival and quality of life for years to come.
At the heart of this progress is Dr. Kelly, whose leadership has helped elevate pediatric oncology and blood disorders at Roswell Park into a nationally recognized program.
“Every breakthrough represents a child who gets to grow up. That’s what drives us.”
“Kids with cancer don’t just deserve treatment, they deserve better answers,” Dr. Kelly shared. “Everything we do is about pushing the science forward while never losing sight of the child and family in front of us.”
Dr. Kelly’s dual focus on compassionate care and rigorous research defines the program’s impact. As both a clinician and researcher, she understands the urgency of translating discovery into real-world solutions. “For pediatric cancer, research isn’t optional. It’s essential,” she notes. “Children don’t have time to wait for incremental change.”
Donations to Roswell Park are ensuring that research moves forward, no matter what.