FROM INNOVATION TO EDUCATION
Born in Mississippi during the Jim Crow era, Dr. Rosser was one of the first three African Americans to graduate from the University of Mississippi and later attend its medical school. He helped establish the school’s first African American fraternity (Omega Psi Phi-Eta Zeta Chapter) and was inducted into its Hall of Fame.
Throughout his career, Dr. Rosser has prioritized expanding diversity in STEM and medicine. From leading MiniMed School experiences for high schoolers at the American College of Surgeons to launching the Drone STEM MiniMed Experience, his groundbreaking educational model—Stealth Learning—combines pop culture with pedagogy to make science more accessible and fun. Think cinema, video games, music, and drones—all used to empower the next generation.
Dr. Rosser’s advocacy doesn’t stop with students. He also established the Top Gun Surgical Squadron, an elite mentorship program that nurtures the next generation of surgical leaders—especially among underrepresented communities. With over 70 members and chapters in the U.S. and Canada, the squadron is guiding aspiring doctors from high school to residency.
Since 1990, Dr. Rosser has been a pioneering force in minimally invasive surgery, making his mark as a global leader in the field. He was among the first to perform and teach laparoscopic cholecystectomies, including on some of the youngest pediatric patients in the world at the time—ranging from just 15 to 19 months old. Dr. Rosser also broke new ground by performing laparoscopic removal of common bile duct stones and advancing inguinal hernia repairs using minimally invasive techniques. A trailblazer in gastrointestinal procedures, he was part of the early wave of surgeons to adopt these cutting-edge approaches.
Most recently, Dr. Rosser helped spearhead the Issues of Race, Diversity, and Inclusion lecture series at the Jacobs School of Medicine to spark essential conversations within the surgical field.
LIFELONG ADVOCACY
Dr. Rosser’s most personal crusade is against size discrimination—an issue he knows intimately. At one point in his life, he weighed 460 pounds and had a BMI of 56. The microaggressions and assumptions he faced during that time still fuel his advocacy.
“I’ve walked into rooms where people made assumptions before I ever said a word,” he shares. “Size discrimination is real, and it breaks people in ways we don’t talk about enough.”
His critically acclaimed TED Talk, Fat and Black in America, brought this issue into sharper focus, resonating with audiences and sparking necessary conversations around equity, dignity, and the need for systemic change. Dr. Rosser’s career now includes healing cultural mindsets and institutional practices, all while remaining a hands-on surgeon and mentor. “I want to be known as a healer—not just someone who cuts, but someone who restores.”
FROM SILENCE TO STRENGTH
Mrs. Rosser is a certified bariatric coach, a graduate of the University of Akron, and a nationally recognized speaker and author. She is a contributing author to Unbreakable Spirit: Rising Above the Impossible, curated by renowned motivational speaker Lisa Nichols. Her insightful writing has been featured in Today.com, Daily Mail, Southern Writers Magazine, Bariatric Today, and more—amplifying the often-unspoken experiences of those who love someone battling severe obesity.
A sought-after speaker, Mrs. Rosser has taken her message to national platforms such as The Dr. Oz Show, The Today Show, and Daily Mail TV. Her TEDx Talk, Obesity Through the Eyes of a Loved One, offered raw, heartfelt wisdom. She has also presented at prestigious gatherings including the National Medical Association, both regional and national conferences, the Harvard Patient Safety and Obesity Surgery Conference, and the American Academy of Family Physicians Conference—cementing her role as both an advocate and educator. She is also a member of The Orlando Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
