Gifted surgeon touched lives; leaves legacy to advance cancer research

DETROIT, Feb. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a young girl growing up in Monroe, Mich., Kathryn Cramer knew that she wanted to be a physician and an educator. She worked hard to achieve her goal, becoming a successful orthopaedic surgeon who was an inspirational force in what was then a male-dominated field.

Dr. Cramer was diagnosed with breast cancer in the late 1990's but that did not stop her from doing all she could to help her patients. At the time, she was one of only two female orthopaedic surgeons in the country specialized in both pediatrics and trauma. She lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005 at the age of 44, yet she continues to leave her indelible mark to help improve the lives of others through a charitable remainder trust that has recently resulted in a gift of more than $1.4 million to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

The gift will be used to establish the Kathryn E. Cramer, M.D., Endowed Chair for Cancer Research at Karmanos Cancer Institute. It was Dr. Cramer's wish to honor her medical oncologist, Philip A. Philip, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P., at Karmanos, as the first endowed chair and to support cancer research.

"I am honored and humbled to be remembered by Dr. Cramer with this high recognition, naming me the first Kathryn E. Cramer, M.D., Endowed Chair for Cancer Research," said Dr. Philip, leader, Gastrointestinal and Neuroendocrine Tumors Multi-Disciplinary Team at Karmanos and professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine (WSU SOM.) "Dr. Cramer was a young, accomplished surgeon who continued to do all she could for her patients, before and after her diagnoses. Her passion was to help her patients through their injury recovery so that they could return to a high functional, quality life. She accomplished that and so much more. Now, with this gift, she will continue to benefit others for years to come."       

Dr. Cramer was a gifted orthopaedic surgeon who was sought by health institutions across the country. However, she decided to return to Detroit to help her family care for loved ones and deal with the passing of both parents within a short period of time. She spent the rest of her career in Detroit, dedicated to those she loved, as well as her patients.  

Ann Cramer, the sister of Dr. Cramer, speaking on behalf of her family said, "Kathy spent her entire life helping others so it's fitting that she continues to positively impact others long after she has left us. Her legacy remains, not only in the gifts that she wanted shared but in the way she lived the short time God gave her. She always worked hard, always played hard, always fought for her patients and others, always loved and never gave up.

"We hope that this gift will help Karmanos scientists find answers to the riddle that cancer poses to help prevent other families from experiencing the loss of a loved one."

"We are truly grateful for this incredible gift resulting from Dr. Cramer's vision to advance cancer research," said Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO, Karmanos Cancer Institute. "The endowment creates a permanent legacy for Dr. Cramer and a consistent source of cancer research funding at a very exciting time in the development of personalized medicine and targeted therapeutics."

Dr. Cramer's mentors, colleagues and patients described her as compassionate, empathetic, intelligent, energetic, determined, wonderful sense of humor, thoughtful and respectful, enthusiastic learner, and an extraordinary role model and teacher– a true testament to the human being she was. 

Dr. Cramer received her Bachelors of Science degree from Michigan Technological University and her Medical Degree from WSU SOM. She completed her orthopaedic residency at Vanderbilt University and was actively recruited to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Wash., where she completed a year-long fellowship in orthopaedic trauma, followed by a fellowship in pediatric orthopaedics at Seattle Children's Hospital and Medical Center.

She returned to Detroit in 1993, serving as senior attending physician in orthopaedic trauma at Henry Ford Hospital. She joined the WSU SOM faculty in 1998 as a clinical specialist in orthopaedic trauma, practicing at Detroit Receiving Hospital and Children's Hospital of Michigan.

For more information on planned giving, estate gifts and endowments to the Karmanos Cancer Institute, call 313-576-8119. For more information on cancer services, call 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266) or visit www.karmanos.org.

About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Located in mid-town Detroit, Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, a subsidiary of McLaren Health Care, is one of 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Karmanos is among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and researchers on faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the WSU School of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics related to cancer care. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., is the Institute's president and chief executive officer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to www.karmanos.org.   

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SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute

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