Denis Parsons Burkitt is an important person in oncology as he made significant contributions to medical research. Born in 1911 in Enniskillen, Ireland, he had to overcome his personal challenges including loss of right eye to become a famous surgeon and researcher. In his early career he was immersed in religious convictions and has a deep sense of purpose. This made him join the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War II. After that he started his career in medicine in Uganda. Here he made a groundbreaking discovery about Burkitt lymphoma. This is a cancer that is fat growing and mainly affects African children. By connecting the malaria endemic areas, Burkitt has identified the relationship between cancer and geographical locations. He has researched epidemiological studies and created geographical maps for proving his findings. His findings have helped in the identification of new cancer and also provided a foundation for cancer epidemiology. His contribution to oncology is well known and it has helped him to get many accolades including knighthood in 1978. Burkitt lymphoma and its relation to viral oncogenesis are researched continuously till today. Burkitt's life has been marked by perseverance, curiosity and compassion. This can serve as an inspiration for future generations mainly in the field of medicine.