Carol Elaine Rose, MD
October 16, 2023

ROSE, CAROL ELAINE, MD: 82 years young, died peacefully October 16, 2023 at Family Hospice in Pittsburgh, PA. Survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, Byron S Rose; her son, Jeffrey and his wife, Carrie; Carol's 5 grandsons, Hayden, Tyler, Jacob, Maxwell and Zachary. Also her beloved dog, Gus. Also surviving are her brother, Richard (Linda) Miller,  and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Beatrice and George Miller, and her daughter, Jill. 

Carol was a force to be reckoned with and that was evident in her decision to go to medical school. Carol had taken three years of nonmedical study at the University of Miami; she left to start a family and work as a substitute teacher. The other teachers encouraged her to return to school and finish her degree, so that she could continue teaching. She re-enrolled and thought she might teach science, but started to dream about attending medical school - an aspiration her husband supported. When she graduated in 1978, she was an atypical student; she was 33 when she began medical school, she was married with kids, and she was female - at the time, a rarity with only eight out of 100 students in her class women. "My classmates called me Mama Rose," said Dr. Rose, who became an anesthesiologist. "I adored the nickname. I really did. I went to medical school because I enjoyed school as much as a I wanted to be a physician."

From there, her family supported her decision to complete her residency in Pittsburgh which is where they remained, surprising even themselves. She enjoyed anesthesiology so much that she earned a residency at Mercy Hospital, and fell in love with Pittsburgh. After spending eight years at South Side Hospital, she worked at UPMC for 19 years. She loved administering anesthesia and working in the operating room. During the later years of her career, she performed anesthesiology duties for patients at Western Psych who were undergoing electroconclusive therapy (ECT). She sees irony in the way her career ended. "I wanted to be a psychiatrist but couldn't be, and I ended up being an anesthesiologist at a psychiatric hospital. I loved it because you can actually see the patients getting better," she said. During her career, she was also the first female President of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the President of the Pennsylvania Society of Anesthesiologists, and also was appointed to serve on the state Board of Medicine.

Dr. Rose enjoyed retirement; for fun and community service, she crocheted blankets for Project Linus. Carol will be missed tremendously by those who knew her. Carol's family would like to thank the St. Clair Hospital Cancer Center for their care. 

Services at Temple Emanuel of South Hills, 1250 Bower Hill Road, Mount Lebanon on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 2 PM. Visitation one hour prior to services (1 pm - 2 pm). Interment Mount Lebanon Cemetery - Temple Emanuel section.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, 400 Winding Creek Blvd, Mechanicsburg, PA, 17050 (foundationpamedsoc.org) or a charity of your choice. 

Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. www.schugar.com

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I will always remember how kind she was to patients and everyone she encountered, Her hug when she heard my father died was an immense comfort.

By karen a florian - October 19, 2023

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Carol was a wonderful mentor for so many residents and medical students. Her contributions to organized medicine are legendary to say the least and it will be quiet. Some time before we see anyone remotely up to her standards and capabilities. Rest in peace my friend. You will be sorely missed.

By John Phillip Williams MD - October 19, 2023

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Carol was responsible for me becoming an anesthesiologist. And I was responsible for two more. She was a wonderful person and a great doc. Thank you, Mama Rose for sharing your love of people, medicine and anesthesiology. You will be sorely missed. Love, Jim

By Jim Cantoni - October 18, 2023

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I was very sad to hear of Carol’s passing. She was one of the first people I met at Temple Emanuel and I will miss her and admire her for her accomplishments. She continued to learn even after working as a doctor.

By Johnetta Bodnovich - October 18, 2023

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You lead, you inspired, you mentored, and your kind. We all will miss you.

By Andy Herlich - October 18, 2023

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Please accept my deepest sympathies. Carol was an amazing, vibrant person. I got to know her through our crochet group. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to know Carol. She was always so cheerful, outgoing, and generous. She truly embodied the idea of a life well lived.

By Christine Anderson - October 17, 2023

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