Karen Marie (Terrell) Schoelles

Born August 31, 1953 in St. Clair, Michigan

Died October 31, 2022 in Bedford, Massachusetts

Karen Schoelles, age 69, died peacefully at home after a courageous battle with leiomyosarcoma cancer.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Edward Lavelle and Barbara Jean Terrell, and survived by her sister, Carole Lacy-Carella, brother-in-law Joe Carella, and niece and nephews Alex Lacy, Forrest Lacy, and Matthew Carella.

As a child with cerebral palsy attending school with other disabled children in Bartow, FL, Karen decided to become a physician at the age of 7. She earned a B.S. from Stetson University and an M.D. from the University of Florida College of Medicine.

As associate director of the Salem internal medicine program at Salem Hospital, she developed the curriculum and ran the outpatient clinic for the residents. She entered private practice in Salem, MA, where she cared for over 2000 patients primarily over the age of 65. As Chief of Community Geriatrics at Hebrew Rehabilitation in Boston, Karen ran a program for home visits and healthcare goal-setting. She earned an M.S. in Health Policy and Management from Harvard School of Public Health and joined ECRI in 2005 largely motivated by the nonprofit mission and steadfast dedication to scientific rigor and served as Evidence-Based Practice Director and VP of Clinical Excellence and Safety.

She was a gifted mentor to her staff. She was selfless in her work, putting the voice of the patient first in everything she did. In her personal life, she focused on improving health equity for patients who have been historically underserved and denied access and affordable healthcare.

Karen's unwavering love for family, her dogs, food, gardening, art, and social causes were among some of the gems that stand out in her life. She was a member of The Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross (SCHC)-women committed to prayer, spiritual growth, and simplicity of life. Her reach and impact in others' lives will go beyond her short time with us.

A private memorial for family will be held and her ashes spread at a date to be determined at the Adelynrood Retreat Center in Byfield, MA.

In lieu of flowers, Karen asked that donations be made in her memory to the SCHC, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization and list the Karen Schoelles Social Justice Fund, whose purpose is to educate and transform how society (all faiths) can change patterns of social justice inequities inflicted on people of color. Their mailing address is below and their website is https://schccompanions.org/donate/ .

Adelynrood
Attn: Finance Coordinator
46 Elm Street
Byfield, MA 01922-2812