Karen Kritsky's Obituary
Dr. Karen Kritsky, D.O., died Tuesday morning July 2nd, 2024, at her home on Sand Key, Florida. Karen was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania on July 26th, 1951, as the first born child of Dorothy & Walter Kritsky Sr. Karen grew up mastering sewing, figure skating, and the piano. At Monessen High School, Karen knew that she would become a surgeon. She graduated from Waynesburg College in 1973; Graduate School from West Virginia College in Morgantown in 1974; Medical School from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg in 1978; and her Internship and Residency from Grandview Hospital in Dayton, Ohio in 1982.
With her Surgical Medical Degree in hand, Karen moved to Clearwater, Florida working at several hospitals within Pinellas County: Metro General Hospital, University General Hospital, St. Petersburg General Hospital, and Largo General Hospital.
At University General Hospital, Dr. Kritsky became Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Chief of Staff, and a member of the Board of Directors. At Largo Medical Center Hospital, Dr. Kritsky was a member of the Medical Executive Committee.
In 2008 Dr. Kritsky’s medical practice had an excessive amount of breast cancer patients. She envisioned how a new breast center within Largo Medical Center Hospital could be built. She even made a replica of the layout to scale. The CEO of Largo Medical Center Hospital agreed with her plans, and she became the Medical Director of the new Florida Breast Institute (FBI). She oversaw all the construction, which she desired to be geared to the patient’s emotional well being in a quiet and serene Asian atmosphere.
In 2012, Dr. Kritsky transitioned to Advanced Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine as Medical Director of Accelecare / Healogics and then to Largo Medical Center. She also became a member of the Medical Executive Committee and Secretary / Treasurer of Largo Medical Staff.
For over 25 years, Dr. Kritsky served as both Oral Examiner and Clinical Examiner for the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery. The Breast Journal also published Dr. Kritsky’s written work called ABBI – Breast Biopsies with ABBI. She also gave lectures to the local community on breast cancer & wound care.
Dr. Karen Kritsky had an exquisite taste in every aspect of her life. She was charismatic and instantly drew everyone she met. She loved traveling to far off destinations around the globe. The most requested questions asked to her was – “what exotic location are you going to next?”
She will be most remembered for her work and dedication to her patients. She loved her profession to the upmost. She listened and diagnosed each of her patient’s medical problems with the skilled she was trained to do. Karen was quite special and caring and was loved by all who knew her. The night before Karen died, she was asked if she was praying to God. Karen responded, “yes, I was praying to God, but not for me. I was praying to God for the other cancer patients not to have the pain I am going through.”
This month she would have celebrated her 35th anniversary with her beloved husband, Eddie. Dr. Karen Kritsky is survived by not only her husband but also her Daughters, Beth Lynch & Lindsay Leclerc, Lindsay’s husband Dave Leclerc; Grandchildren Olivia & Parker Leclerc, Killian Fallon & Raegan Logan; Karen’s Brother, Walter Kritsky and Karen’s Niece Alexis Kritsky Matlock and her husband Josh Matlock, as well as all the other in-laws and Karen’s many friends.
Here's to you, “K”, champagne wishes and caviar dreams always. We Love You!!!
In lieu of flowers, Karen would rather have a donation to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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