Dr. Karen Gehrs, who recently retired following a career in ophthalmology, will be inducted into the Festus R-6 Hall of Fame on Oct. 17 as part of the district’s homecoming activities.
The induction ceremony is set for 5:30 p.m. in the Festus High School lobby, 501 Westwind Drive. The district will also recognize her at 6:40 p.m. at Tiger Stadium prior to the start of the Festus football team’s homecoming game at 7 p.m. against the Farmington Black Knights.
Gehrs, a 1979 Festus High School graduate, said she appreciates the recognition and looks forward to attending the ceremonies.
“It’s quite an honor,” she said. “I was pleasantly surprised to receive a phone call from (the district) and to be included with the past honorees. I will be there for the hall of fame ceremony and the homecoming activities.
“FHS prepared me well for college and to embark on the path that led to my career. In fact, I chose my college on the advice of my high school counselor, the late Terry Coleman. I have not been back to the campus for over 40 years, so I am looking forward to learning about the school now and how it has changed over the years. I especially look forward to meeting current students, teachers and administrators.”
R-6 Superintendent Nicki Ruess said Gehrs is more than qualified for the hall of fame honor.
“We are proud to welcome Karen Gehrs as the 32nd inductee into the Festus R-6 Hall of Fame,” Ruess said. “Karen’s impact extends far beyond her individual achievements; she exemplifies the dedication and leadership we so often see in our Tiger graduates. The hall of fame exists to honor individuals whose lives reflect the values of our schools and community, and Karen embodies those values. We are thrilled to celebrate her many contributions and the lasting difference she has made in the lives of others.”
Gehrs earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., before completing medical school at the University of Missouri in Columbia. She then went on to train in microsurgery and ophthalmology at Duke University, where she completed an ophthalmology residency and fellowship in vitreoretinal disease focusing on eye trauma, retinal detachment, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. She focused her research on macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease.
She began her career as an assistant professor of ophthalmology at St. Louis University. After a year in private practice, she returned to teaching in 1996 at the University of Iowa, where she treated patients; trained students, residents and fellows; and conducted clinical research.
Gehrs said she finds it difficult to pinpoint the most satisfying part of her career because she has enjoyed it all.
“That is a tough question because I found patient care, teaching and research all very satisfying for different reasons,” she said. “I had extraordinary mentors and role models at the Duke Eye Center, which led me to choose an academic career combining patient care, teaching and research. I chose to subspecialize in vitreoretinal disease and surgery because the field was rapidly progressing with capabilities to dramatically impact patients’ lives.
“It is very gratifying to be able to restore someone’s vision by removing a hemorrhage from their eye or repairing a detached retina or injecting a medication that treats their condition.”
However, she said teaching those who wanted to pursue a similar career was rewarding, too.
“Passing on to others the skills that I learned from my mentors was also extremely satisfying,” Gehrs said. “It was always fun seeing the light bulb go on when a resident or fellow learned a new skill and developed confidence in their skills while I was working with them.
“I learned so much from teaching as well. Working with bright, inquisitive students really keeps a teacher on their toes.”
She also appreciated her time spent in research.
“Finally, it was exciting and satisfying to participate in research in the areas of macular degeneration, diabetes and uveitis in various capacities, just knowing I played a part in projects that led to some exciting discoveries and treatments,” she said.
Gehrs said she sometimes returns to the Festus area to visit her brother, Matthew Gehrs, adding that she has fond memories of Festus schools and growing up in the city.
“I was not good at sports (she was nearsighted) but participated in music activities – choir and as a piano accompanist for music contest participants each year,” she said. “I also was in the Spanish Club and participated in a quiz bowl-type club while it was available.
“It was a great place to grow up. Jefferson County was much more rural when I grew up there, and Festus was really a small town then. You couldn’t go anywhere without meeting someone you knew. I remember when Festus Main Street had several small department stores, specialty clothing stores, multiple locally owned shoe stores and dime stores. One of the dime stores was called Woolworth’s and had a classic soda fountain and lunch counter.”
Gehrs also recalled an early job working at Jefferson Memorial Hospital, now Mercy Hospital Jefferson, in Crystal City.
“During college and the first year of medical school, I had a summer job as a phlebotomist drawing blood at Jefferson Memorial Hospital,” she said. “I worked the evening shift, so I would come in early some days to look at microscope slides with the pathologist who headed up the lab, Gordon Johnson, MD. He was a great teacher and introduced me to a number of the physicians there, who I was able to shadow on occasion. That experience helped me to decide whether I wanted to pursue a career in medicine or more basic science.”
Gehrs is the daughter of the late James and Mary Ann Gehrs.
She and her husband, Dr. Tim Johnson, also a retired ophthalmologist, now live in Punta Gorda, Fla.