Narjust Florez Honored as 2025 Rising Star Woman in Healthcare

Some journeys are marked by an extraordinary sense of purpose—and Dr. Narjust Florez’s path is one of them. She has answered the call to rise above the ordinary with compassion, determination, and groundbreaking innovation. A tireless advocate for equitable cancer care and an accomplished physician-scientist, Dr. Florez has been named a 2025 Rising Star Woman in Healthcare by Women We Admire, an organization devoted to recognizing exceptional women leaders shaping the future of healthcare in North America.

When Passion Meets Purpose: Dr. Florez’s Early Spark

Originally from Venezuela, Dr. Florez’s path to leadership began with her medical education at Universidad Católica Nordestana in the Dominican Republic. But it was more than academics that set her apart—her early collaborations with the Dominican Republic Health Department to improve access to care for Haitian immigrant children and lead a nationwide vaccination campaign revealed a lifelong dedication to health equity.

This passion only deepened as she completed her residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, earning accolades as the Department of Medicine’s most academic resident, and continued into her hematology and oncology fellowship at Mayo Clinic, where she served as chief fellow in oncology.

Rising Through the Ranks: Advocacy Through Action

From her first days as a clinician-researcher, Dr. Florez focused on those too often left behind in the healthcare system—ethnic and racial minorities and economically disadvantaged populations. Her work at the University of Wisconsin led to the co-founding of the Midwest’s first clinic dedicated specifically to women with lung cancer, which gained national attention and received the North American Cancer Care Team Award at the 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer.

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she now serves as Associate Director of the Cancer Care Equity Program, Dr. Florez leads initiatives that eliminate barriers to timely cancer diagnoses. Her work at the Community-Based Cancer Diagnostic Clinic is making a tangible difference for underserved communities.

Transforming Care Through Research: The Florez Impact

Dr. Florez’s dedication to scientific advancement is no less impressive. As the founder of the Florez Laboratory, she leads bold, inclusive research. One of her most notable contributions is the Young Lung Cancer Study, the first of its kind to explore the unique challenges faced by lung cancer patients under age 50. She also spearheads the FhINCH Study, which investigates how immunotherapy impacts fertility and sexual health in young women, and the LEAD Study, addressing diagnostic delays in lung cancer. Her upcoming EQUAL Study explores a promising blood test for EGFR-positive lung cancer—designed with input from affected communities to ensure relevance and equity.

To date, Dr. Florez has authored over 115 publications in top-tier journals such as The Lancet Oncology, Nature, and JAMA Oncology, where she also serves as the first Latina Associate Editor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

A Mentor, A Leader, A Trailblazer

As a mentor and educator, Dr. Florez nurtures the next generation of clinicians and researchers, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Her community engagement efforts and collaborations with organizations like ASCO, IASLC, YLC, EGFRresisters, and ALK Positive ensure that patients’ voices remain central to the research that affects them most.

Her recent honors—including the 2024 Jimmy Fund Award for Rookie of the Year and recognition by the Boston Business Journal in the Health Equity Champion category—highlight her growing impact in the healthcare field.

A Recognition of What’s to Come

The Women We Admire award is more than just a title—it’s an affirmation of Dr. Florez’s relentless drive, ethical leadership, and transformative vision for healthcare. Known for spotlighting exceptional women leaders across the U.S. and Canada, Women We Admire celebrates those who are not only excelling in their fields but are also mentoring, educating, and elevating others.

With her inclusion in the 2025 Rising Star Women Leaders in Healthcare, Dr. Florez joins a distinguished group of innovators who are changing the way care is delivered, who it reaches, and how it feels for those who need it most.

A Legacy in the Making

Dr. Narjust Florez’s journey is far from over. But what’s already clear is that she is shaping a legacy defined not by titles or awards, but by impact—the lives she touches, the systems she improves, and the communities she empowers.

Her story is a reminder that in healthcare, true leadership isn’t just about curing disease—it’s about healing systems, opening doors, and lifting others as you rise.

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