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Surgeon, Born in 1952, Kenyan War is Now Renowned Philanthropist, Humanitarian, and Inspiring Author: Meet Pius Kamau, MD
This December, we feature the luminaries, the light bearers, the peace-makers, and those who give us hope as we approach this season of short days and long, dark nights. Join us to meet the people and organizations who can unify, uplift, and inspire you this holiday season and in the year ahead.
Tell us about your personal journey.
As a little boy struggling to find my life’s path out of Africa—an experience detailed in my memoir—I found solace in writing about life’s vicissitudes. Writing has always complemented my scientific work, bringing vitality and humanity to medicine. As Leonardo da Vinci believed, artists are made more complete by a sprinkling of mathematics or physics.
After completing medical school in Spain and surgical training in the United States, I settled in Colorado to practice surgery while writing for Denver’s daily newspapers. I now write for the Denver Gazette and have been published widely, including in NPR’s This I Believe. I am also an NPR commentator.
My memoir, Running with Lions, will be published in 2026 by Koehler Books. Through Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP.org), I help support African women scientists pursuing graduate education in U.S. institutions. I am deeply committed to advancing minority students’ STEM education and serve on several academic boards.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
I played rugby at Strathmore College in Nairobi and after a competition was in an auto accident; the car caught fire. Two professors died. My four months in the hospital gave me a deep insight into life: past, present, future. I’m a more empathetic surgeon; a patient writer, accepting of rejections. My accident was pivotal to my medicine and my writing.
What are the most valuable lessons you've learned through your work?
A cardinal human quality is openness to life—to encountering wisdom and knowledge in unexpected places. Throughout my career, I have consistently faced conditions I had never seen before; patients themselves carry the potential to teach. A good writer seeks new ideas and new ways of description. One must remain open to new messages, new voices, and the possibility of being surprised. Life is meant for inquiry and adventure.
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
To be a true human is to serve in a selfless, sharing manner. My aim in life is to relieve pain, to write well, and to leave the world a better place. If everyone contributed to one another’s happiness, we would live in a more peaceful and fulfilled world.
What are your highest hopes for democracy to unite, uplift, and inspire?
Americans are yet to attain “a more perfect union,” but know democracy is the best system of governance. I lived in Spain during Franco’s dictatorship; certain ideas meant jail or death, while Americans speak their thoughts. Our place in this democracy requires that we talk, express our ideas, and vote our beliefs. For “all men were created equal” to be, all of us must unite to uplift each other who are represented at democracy’s banquet table. You must be inspired and rightfully feel you’re part of the general good to realize that you belong and have as much to offer. To me, that is the essence of democracy.
How can GlobalMindED support leaders like yourself in achieving your goals and advancing your aspirations?
Leaders from disparate branches of learning come together at GlobalMindED to engage in dialogue, with artists and scientists respectfully interacting to teach and learn from one another. GlobalMindED should take a critical look at its own community and ask, “Who among us should be promoted as future leaders?”
To help America compete globally, GlobalMindED must seek out women and men of vision—individuals who bridge disciplines and embody both scientific rigor and artistic insight.
Contact Pius Kamau
You can meet Pius Kamau, MD, a Health Equity Leader, and the other incredible leaders at the GlobalMindED Conference in June 2026 in Denver.
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