KHSC announces Dr. Doris Jabs as Rose of Hope Clinical Chair in Breast Health

Breast cancer screening, imaging, and care across southeastern Ontario is getting a major boost with the appointment of Dr. Doris Jabs as the Rose of Hope Clinical Chair in Breast Health at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC).

The announcement comes just weeks after the 27th annual Rose of Hope Golf Tournament raised an incredible $285,000 — the first installment of the tournament committee’s five-year, $1 million pledge to establish this new leadership role.

A highly respected fellowship trained Women’s Imaging radiologist with more than two decades of experience, Dr. Jabs is also the long-time Regional Breast Imaging Lead for the Ontario Breast Screening Program and one of the driving forces behind the creation of KHSC’s Breast Imaging Kingston (BIK), a state-of-the-art, patient-focused breast cancer screening and diagnostic facility.

“This role is about building a stronger, more connected breast health system,” says Dr. Jabs. “From faster screening to better navigation and follow-up, we want patients to feel supported every step of the way. Thanks to the generosity of the Rose of Hope and our community, we now have the ability to make that happen.”

Unlike funding for a single piece of equipment, a Clinical Chair position provides the time, resources and authority for a physician leader to drive innovation in care, research and education. The role will focus on reducing wait-times, streamlining care, expanding outreach to underserved communities, and fostering collaboration between health care providers across the region.

Sherri McCullough, Chair of the Rose of Hope Committee and KHSC Board Chair, says the new position will be transformational for women’s health.

“This is about changing the entire system,” says McCullough. “The Clinical Chair will help attract and retain top talent, support innovation, and ensure patients have a smoother, more supportive journey through diagnosis and treatment. I’m so proud of what our tournament has achieved over the last 27 years. We are grateful to every donor, sponsor and participant who has helped support breast cancer care in our region.”

Over its 27-year history, the Rose of Hope Golf Tournament has raised more than $3.5 million in support of women’s health at KHSC. In recent years, funds have helped transform breast imaging locally, including a $1 million commitment for an MRI, which will be operational at the BIK early next year.

“Thanks to the incredible leadership of the Rose of Hope and the generosity of our community, we have become a provincial leader in breast screening and imaging. Dr. Jabs brings unmatched expertise, passion, and vision to this role, and I know she will help set a new standard of care for our patients across southeastern Ontario,” says Dr. David Pichora, KHSC President and CEO.

The Rose of Hope Clinical Chair in Breast Health is supported by the work of the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF). Tom Zsolnay, UHKF President and CEO, says the role exemplifies the power of philanthropy in southeastern Ontario.

“This is a shining example of what happens when our community comes together behind a shared goal. The Rose of Hope has already dramatically improved breast health services in our community, and now they are doing it again — this time with the leadership of Dr. Jabs.”

This is KHSC’s second clinical chair position. The first was announced in January following a $1 million donation from Jay and Kendal Patry to create a Clinical Chair in Genomics position, which is held by Dr. Prameet Sheth.