Dr. Kaye Monk-Morgan: A Personal Story of Community, Cancer, and the Power of Early Detection

For Dr. Kaye Monk-Morgan, Wichita’s Grove Street neighborhood isn’t just part of her past. It’s where she grew up, learned important life lessons, and developed a connection to a community she still calls home.

Today, she brings both personal experience and a leadership perspective to the conversation surrounding groundwater contamination in north Wichita.

Her story is one of family, unanswered questions, early detection, and hope for a healthier future.

A Neighborhood That Will Always Be Home

Growing up near 21st and Grove, Monk-Morgan remembers a childhood filled with formative experiences and family connections. Although she has lived in different parts of Wichita, the neighborhood remains deeply meaningful to her.

Learning about the groundwater contamination brought feelings of anger and concern, particularly for generations of residents who may not have had the information needed to make decisions about their health.

Several of her family members, including her grandparents, lived in the neighborhood and later died from cancer. While the causes of those illnesses remain uncertain, the contamination has left her with difficult questions about her family’s history.

For Monk-Morgan, the issue is not simply about environmental conditions. It’s about the people, families, and memories connected to a place she considers home.

The Power of Early Detection

Monk-Morgan’s concerns are also informed by her own experience with breast cancer.

In December 2022, she was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer after a healthcare provider noticed a lump during a well-woman examination. What initially seemed like a routine appointment became a life-changing moment.

Fortunately, the cancer was discovered early, giving her time to understand her diagnosis, explore treatment options, and make informed decisions about her care.

“But it’s early meant I had options as it related to what my course of care would be.”

Her experience reinforces an important message: feeling healthy doesn’t always mean there isn’t something happening beneath the surface.

Although the cause of her cancer has not been established, Monk-Morgan’s experience illustrates why access to health information, appropriate testing, and medical care matters.

Taking Action Is an Act of Leadership

As a longtime advocate for leadership and community engagement, Monk-Morgan sees something powerful happening in the neighborhoods affected by groundwater contamination.

She recognizes the residents asking difficult questions, advocating for answers, and encouraging others to take their health seriously.

“The people most proximate to the issue have been very front and center. That’s a leadership move.”

She also considers the decision to pursue health testing an act of leadership. By seeking information, individuals can better understand potential concerns and make decisions about their health.

Through Clearway Testing, people who live in or have spent time in Sedgwick County can access free health testing and follow-up care related to potential exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE).

Rebuilding Trust and Creating a Healthier Future

For Monk-Morgan, success means more than addressing environmental contamination. It also means restoring trust, ensuring accountability, and helping communities move forward.

She hopes the experience will lead to greater transparency, improved access to healthcare, and meaningful lessons about environmental justice.

Above all, she wants future generations to benefit from what the community has learned.

“When you know better, you do better.”

Her story serves as a reminder that health information can empower individuals, while informed and engaged communities can help create lasting change.