Dr. Steven T. Rosen is a man of many talents—what one might call a true Renaissance man. In addition to his distinguished career in oncology, he is also a poet, songwriter, and lifelong student of humanity. His words, whether spoken in the clinic or written on a late-night flight, reveal a physician who has always seen medicine as both a science and an art.
When we met, Dr. Rosen radiated a calm and contented presence. He has the kind of grounded optimism that only comes from decades of service, reflection, and gratitude.
A Journey Defined by Happenstance
Dr. Rosen grew up in a blue-collar family on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, far from the academic world he would one day inhabit. “I never intended to be a doctor,” he admits. His path to medicine began almost by accident.
During his freshman year at college, amid nationwide unrest over the Vietnam War, the university temporarily shut down. Searching for something to do, he tagged along with friends to an informational session about medical school at Northwestern University. “It turns out I had pretty good grades,” he says with a smile, “so when I applied—they accepted me.”
From there, one serendipitous step led to another. He pursued internal medicine, and when a dear friend lost a leg to sarcoma, that experience inspired him to specialize in hematology and oncology. Even his fellowship came by chance: “Someone who was supposed to be in the program had a tragic accident, and a spot opened up. I applied late—and got in.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Rosen has seen opportunity as something that often arrives unexpectedly, to be met with openness rather than strategy. “Most of the pivotal moments in my life happened by happenstance,” he reflects.
The Heart of His Work
Now City of Hope’s Chief Scientific Officer Emeritus and Provost Emeritus, Dr. Rosen is widely respected for his leadership and compassion. Yet what he finds most rewarding remains simple: “The most rewarding aspect of my job is how many people you can help,” he says.
Dr. Rosen is known for being accessible and present with his patients. “I pride myself on being available,” he says, noting that he gives his personal cell phone number to every patient under his care. His belief in direct, human connection is unwavering.
Since joining City of Hope in 2014 after decades at Northwestern University, Dr. Rosen has been continually inspired by the diversity of both staff and patients. “It surprised me in the best way,” he says. “Here, English isn’t always the first language—but we have incredible interpreters, iPad interpreters, and culturally competent teams that make patients choose doctors regardless of language.”
Poetry in Practice
For Dr. Rosen, creativity has always been a quiet companion to medicine. His journey as a poet began almost accidentally—scribbled lines on airplane napkins, notes jotted in hotel rooms, reflections written in the small hours between responsibilities.
“It started when my daughter took a creative writing class in college,” he recalls. “She inspired me to give it a try.” Over the years, those fragments became a collection—nearly 200 poems tucked away in his office credenza.
One day, a patient undergoing CAR T-cell therapy asked to read them. Afterward, the patient insisted they were worth sharing—and even helped connect Dr. Rosen with a publisher. The poems were translated into Spanish, extending their reach to an even broader audience. His collection of poems can be purchased on Amazon.
He is now at work on his second anthology, aptly titled The Next Journey. His foray into songwriting was just as unplanned—sparked by a conversation at a networking dinner that took on a life of its own. His music is free to stream here.
A Broader View of Health
Dr. Rosen’s curiosity extends far beyond the exam room. He speaks passionately about social determinants of health and the growing recognition of financial toxicity—the economic burden patients face while undergoing treatment.
“Public health systems are built with good intentions,” he says, “but they often create deeply divided care.” He describes a vision for a more equitable model—one that removes the tie between insurance and employment and introduces a hybrid system of universal coverage with private-market access via vouchers.
“It’s not a perfect solution,” he admits, “but it would give everyone the dignity of choice.”
Lessons in Life and Living
Dr. Rosen has faced his own health challenges, which deepened his empathy for those he treats. He recalls one procedure that left him reflecting on the people he loved most—and the worry of how they would be cared for if something happened to him.
“That experience crystallized something for me,” he says. “Family isn’t just blood. It’s everyone you accumulate over a lifetime—people you may not see often, but who live in your heart.”
That perspective infuses everything he does. With patients, he leads with positivity and honesty—two forces he believes are inseparable. “I approach patients with the most positive energy possible,” he says, “I am honest, but positive.” He adds that this approach is doable because he works with blood cancers, which generally have excellent survival rates and prognoses.
The Man of Many Talents
In conversation, Dr. Rosen effortlessly weaves in quotes from poets, philosophers, and songwriters. In just thirty minutes, he recited lines from more than ten different thinkers—each one resonating deeply with his worldview.
He carries himself like a man who has made peace with life’s unpredictability, who understands that science and art, medicine and music, intellect and empathy all share a common root: the human need to connect, create, and care.
Dr. Rosen’s story is a reminder that healing takes many forms—sometimes in the lab, sometimes in the clinic, and sometimes in the quiet rhythm of a poem written at 30,000 feet.