Tribute to Professor Lynette Ann Denny: A Courageous Warrior for Women’s Health
, by Louise Kuhn, Ph.D., Nomonde Mbatani, M.B.Ch.B., F.C.O.G., and Rakiya Saidu, M.D.
We mourn the loss of Lynette “Lyn” Denny, world-renowned gynaecologic oncologist, who passed away at her home in Cape Town, South Africa on June 9, 2024. Her legacy as a clinician, teacher, researcher, and advocate for marginalized women worldwide will continue to inspire generations.
Drs. Louise Kuhn and Rakiya Saidu with Prof. Lyn Denny at Khayelitsha Cervical Cancer Screening Project. August 8, 2022.
Lyn Denny began her professional life at the University of Cape Town (UCT) where she studied medicine, earning a medical degree (M.B.Ch.B.) in 1983. As a medical student in the apartheid era, she was enraged by the stark disparities in access to and quality of care that she witnessed. As a young doctor, she worked in the public sector with disadvantaged communities of Cape Town; and was active in advocacy and support for services around gender-based violence and reproductive rights. In 1989, she joined the UCT Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Groote Schuur Hospital, completing her specialty and sub-specialty qualifications in Gynaecology Oncology in 1993 and Ph.D. in 2000. She led the Gynaecology Oncology Unit until she became Head of Department in 2013, a title which she held until 2022 when she retired to Professor of Special Projects. Over the arc of her career, beginning as an activist gynaecologist and rising to a global leader in women’s health, Lyn stood firm against injustice and worked tirelessly to forge a new future for health care for women in post-apartheid South Africa and beyond.
An example of this commitment to equity is the Khayelitsha Cervical Cancer Screening Project (KCCSP). As a specialist in training, Lyn was incensed at the many gaps in the existing cervical cancer screening programs, including limited access to colposcopy, long-wait times, lost results, and failures to adequately inform women of their results. KCCSP was born out of Lyn’s vision to harness scientific advancements to improve the health of all women, not just those residing in more well-off communities. She focused her razor-sharp mind and strength of will on ways to bring high quality cervical cancer screening to the impoverished and marginalized communities of women residing in and around Cape Town. Initially, she worked as part of a UCT-led outreach program that included a mobile van with an onsite technician to read Pap smears. In the mid-1990s, as the first human papillomavirus (HPV) tests were developed, she leveraged funds not only to validate HPV assays as diagnostic tools, but importantly, to investigate how these tests could be most effectively used in clinical practice. Lyn led the first randomized clinical trial in Africa of the safety and efficacy of the screening approach now referred to as screen-and-treat. As an NCI-supported researcher, Lyn engaged in several trials evaluating screen-and-treat approaches and point-of-care HPV tests. Her ongoing research refined the screen-and-treat approach, incorporating HPV tests at the point of care and combining screening and treatment, if necessary, in a single visit. Her research revolutionized the field of cervical cancer screening and is the foundation of current International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organization (WHO), and national screening guidelines aimed at eliminating cervical cancer around the world.
Prof. Lyn Denny speaking at the Khayelitsha Cervical Cancer Screening Project to celebrate South Africa’s Women’s Day. August 8, 2022.
Empowering women was central to Lyn’s vision. She designed her programs to empower women to demand respectful health services and tackle the silence and stigma around lower genital tract disease and cancer. While the perspective of the patient was paramount, she equally believed in empowering all members of the health care team to provide the highest quality of care. This extended across all cadres of health care workers from senior specialists, across the ranks of doctors and nurses, to crucial support staff like clerks and cleaners. She challenged structural barriers to providing high quality care and had an uncanny ability to see potential in others and push them to excel beyond their perceived limitations. Lyn was an astute and highly skilled clinician and was exacting of herself and others to provide not only compassionate care, but also the most effective care possible. She demanded that research be designed, and rigorously conducted, to ensure that it truly advanced and improved the care of patients.
We are grateful that we were granted the privilege of working with this magnificent woman over the years – with her warmth, wisdom, and wicked sense of humour. Her vision of excellence and service has left an indelible mark in our hearts. Although her passing leaves us deeply sad, we know we are not the only ones who have been moved by this inspiring woman. We take inspiration from Lyn’s courage and unwavering commitment to improving women’s health. Lyn Denny’s spirit lives on, as we continue to imagine and work towards a world in which there is equitable access to the highest quality care for all persons regardless of where in the world they live.