In Memoriam - Lori A Karol

Lori A Karol

7th November 1961 – 26th February 2022

Obituary by Deborah Eastwood

I cannot remember my first meeting with Lori but somehow I feel I have known her all my career – wherever I went in the world of paediatric orthopaedics, Lori was there too, to chat to about life, kids, leadership and much else.

Lori was a native of Detroit, Michigan and began her medical studies at the University of Michigan which cemented her love of medicine and her die-hard enthusiasm for the Michigan Maize and Blue! As a resident her talents were clear to see as she won the AOA-Zimmer Resident Research Award and when she moved to Dallas for her fellowship, it began a career long relationship with the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. Initially, she was recruited to the University of California, Davis, but she soon came back ‘home’.

At Scottish Rite, Lori started her career as a general paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and that is also how she finished. She became a consummate academic orthopaedic surgeon contributing to the literature with all the ‘go to’ papers covering a wide range of topics from gait and function following clubfeet treatment through pulmonary function in early onset scoliosis and back to function and energy expenditure in children who have undergone amputations. She was also an exceptionally skilled clinician and a natural educator and ‘pearls of wisdom’ were the hallmarks of all her teaching sessions, be they in a hospital corridor or on the podium of an international meeting.

Dr Lori A Karol visits with patient Adalynn of Waxahachie (Texas).

Credit: Scottish Rite for Children

In addition to all that, she had a true gift in connecting with patients and their families that was unparalleled and her clinical practice impacted thousands of children with both simple and challenging conditions: she guided the kids and their families through their treatment with the skill and humanity that too few can provide.

We shared a ‘Tony’ mentor – mine is Tony Catterall and hers, Tony Herring. He called her “a trailblazer in the finest sense of the word. In her straightforward approach to every task, big or small, she did the work and always got the job done without fanfare or glory”.

Leadership came naturally to Lori and I was privileged to be in the presidential line at EPOS whilst she was in the same line for POSNA. She was an unfailing advocate of diversity and provided the ultimate female role model. We shared a memorable #Ilooklikeasurgeon moment on stage at EPOSNA 2017 – with the organisers being surprised how long it took to get the ‘few’ women delegates on stage!

#Ilooklikeasurgeon – Lori on stage with Presidents of EPOS and POSNA in 2017.

She was headhunted on several occasions for a ‘Chief of Orthopaedics’ position and she finally left Dallas for Colorado Children’s Hospital in 2020 only to be diagnosed with her tumour too soon after her arrival.

Lori managed to juggle work and play better than most. She cherished life, loved Jimmy Buffet (and Fleetwood Mac), read widely, was a fearless chef and a gardener, enjoyed yoga often followed (at least once to my personal knowledge!) by a glass of wine. She always took the time to get to know you and was a witty conversationalist and a truly great friend.

Most importantly of all, she was devoted to the family of Bob and their three daughters, Abby, Leah and Molly.