Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Alumna Shares Her Story
Meet Dr. Kay Yoon-Flannery, a co-director and a breast surgeon at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper and an assistant professor of surgery at Cooper Medical School who graduated from Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2011. She is here to share her inspiring journey of determination, and dedication to her patients and students.
Dr. Flannery’s interest in medicine began in kindergarten. One day, when she reached for a stethoscope and a white coat during a classroom activity, her teacher told her those were for boys. Instead of accepting this, Dr. Flannery felt a strong urge to prove her teacher wrong. “My immediate thought was, ‘That doesn’t sound right.’ It fueled my determination to follow my dreams.” Encouraged by her mother, who promised her a medical kit of her own, Dr. Flannery decided she would become a doctor.
Dr. Flannery didn’t follow the typical path to medical school. After college, she earned a master’s degree in public health and spent two years working in clinical research. Later, she decided to go back to school, graduating from Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2011. She remembers her medical school years warmly, particularly the support of her friends and classmates, who helped each other through the tough times.
“It’s a challenging journey, but you really do end up where you’re supposed to be,” she advises current students who might be feeling overwhelmed. “If I could go back in time, I’d tell my younger self that things will work out. Just keep working hard.”
One of the most significant moments in Dr. Flannery’s career came during her general surgery residency. While caring for a patient with advanced breast cancer, she realized she wanted to specialize in breast surgery. She found that she enjoyed not only the surgical part of her job but also the opportunity to support her patients emotionally during their tough times. “Through my work, I ensure that patients understand their conditions and surgical options thoroughly. It’s about more than just the surgery, it’s about caring for the whole person.”
Mentorship plays a big role in Dr. Flannery’s life. She actively mentors students and residents, providing them with the same support she received. Together with her husband, she established a scholarship at Rowan University for future surgeons to help alleviate some of the financial burdens of medical school. “I wouldn’t be here without those who mentored and supported me. Giving back is my way of honoring them and paving the way for the next generation.”
Dr. Flannery hopes that her patients remember her as someone who was always there for them. “I would love for my patients to say, after all the things that I have done or not done, that I was in their corner at the time of their need. We do it together, and I really hope they feel that I was there for them during the whole process.”
Written by: Valentina Giannattasio, senior double major in marketing & dance
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Since its founding in 1923, Rowan University has evolved from a teacher preparation college to a public research institution ranked among the top 100 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Rowan University offers bachelor’s through doctoral degrees and professional certificates in person and online to nearly 25,000 students through its main campus in Glassboro and its eight other locations in southern New Jersey. Rowan focuses on practical research at the intersection of health care, engineering, science and business, while ensuring excellence in undergraduate education. The University has earned national recognition for innovation; commitment to high-quality, affordable education; and the development of public-private partnerships. A Carnegie-classified R2 (high research activity) institution, Rowan is the fastest-growing public research university in the Northeast and among the nation’s top 10 fastest-growing, as reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education. In 2025, Rowan opened New Jersey’s only veterinary school and is one of only two universities in the nation to offer M.D., D.O., and D.V.M. medical degrees.