Denis Parsons Burkitt, MD, FRCS(Ed), FRS[1] (28 February 1911 – 23 March 1993) was an Irish surgeon who made significant advances in health, such as the aetiology of a pediatric cancer, now called Burkitt's lymphoma, and the finding that rates of colorectal cancer are higher in those who eat limited dietary fibre.

In 1929 Burkitt entered Trinity College, Dublin to study engineering, but believing his evangelical calling was to be a doctor, he transferred to medicine and graduated in 1935.

[2] During World War II, Burkitt served with the Royal Army Medical Corps in England and later in Kenya and Somaliland.

After the war, Burkitt decided his future lay in medical service in the developing world and he moved to Uganda.

He kept copious notes and concluded that these apparently different childhood cancers were all manifestations of a single type of malignancy.

Burkitt noted the lower rates of colorectal cancer in African countries compared to the West.

[13] Recent research has found that "consuming 10 g more total dietary fibre a day is associated with an average 10% reduction in risk of colorectal cancer"[14] and a diet high in dietary fibre is also advised as a precaution against other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.