Walter Kinney, MD

Dr. Walter Kinney helped confirm what he and others long suspected – that a Pap test alone may not be enough to detect certain types of invasive cervical cancer. A test for the human papilloma virus (HPV) is also needed.

In part because of Dr. Kinney’s previous efforts, in 2003 Kaiser Permanente became the world’s first health plan to recommend combined Pap and HPV tests for women age 30 and older. In 2012, based in part on Dr. Kinney’s work, the American Cancer Society began recommending Pap and HPV tests as the preferred choice for all US women age 30 and older.

“This is the most significant step toward detecting and preventing cervical cancer since the Pap test was implemented in the mid-20th century,” says Ruth Shaber, MD, Medical Director at Kaiser Permanente’s Care Management Institute. “Dr. Kinney’s work has been truly groundbreaking.”