In memoriam: Tamra Kay Deuser, MD

October 3, 1961 – July 7, 2015

TAFP leader Tamra Deuser, MD, passed away quietly at the age of 53 on July 7, 2015, at her home in Flower Mound, Texas. A celebration of her life was held in Lewisville, Texas on Monday, July 13.

Deuser was born in Indianapolis, grew up in Austin, and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She left a successful career in consumer products manufacturing to become a physician, received her medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, and completed her residency with the San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. She began practicing in the Flower Mound area in 2002.

Active in TAFP since joining in 2002, Deuser most recently served as the Academy’s parliamentarian. Having gone through cancer treatment herself, she knew the importance of palliative care and wanted to share her experiences from the patient viewpoint. She joined Clare Hawkins, MD, at TAFP’s C. Frank Webber Lectureship this year in a discussion on palliative care.

She previously received both the TAFP and AAFP Public Health Awards for her dedication to caring for all patients. Deuser also previously represented the Dallas chapter on the TAFP Board for 10 years, was a member of the Commission on Public Health, Clinical Affairs, and Research, and served as chair of the Commission on Health Care Services and Managed Care.

After being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, she continued her life as normal, traveling to Europe, Mexico, Colorado, Washington, and Oregon to spend time with family and friends. Deuser even continued treating patients until April 2014, proving her commitment to the specialty of family medicine and providing her community of patients with the treatment and education necessary.

Deuser is survived by her daughter, Krista; parents, Larry and Carole; sisters, Sheryl Clark and Karen Mechura; and grandmother, Louise Reinken.

Donations can be made to Christian Community Action at ccahelps.org