Kathleen K. Dixon, PT, BS, MEd, passed away on November 5th at the age of 90. She earned her degree in physical therapy from the Medical College of Virginia and a master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins. Serving as the Chief Physical Therapist at Montebello Hospital in Baltimore, Kathleen also played a pivotal role in establishing the physical therapist assistant program at Baltimore Community College. For 19 years, she dedicated herself as a faculty member in Physical Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Kathleen’s impact extended beyond her role as she significantly contributed to the development of the Program’s curriculum and instruction, leading it to achieve a prestigious number 1 status. Recognizing her exceptional contributions, she was honored with the title of Instructor Emeritus. Kathleen was highly regarded for her skills as a practitioner and educator, leaving an indelible mark on the American Physical Therapy Association.
Known for her commitment to fairness and excellence, Kathleen was cherished by all who interacted or worked with her. Her dry yet whimsical sense of humor endeared her to others. She is survived by her sister, Patricia Vane, and her nephews, Russell Vane III and Kenny Vane, along with her close friend Shirley Sahrmann, PT, PhD.
A memorial gathering to celebrate Kathleen’s life will be held on December 9th at the Washington University Program in Physical Therapy from 2 – 3:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kathleen Dixon Scholarship fund for the Program in Physical Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis: https://wustl.advancementform.com/campaign/gifts-wustl-edu/give?sc=GA
To receive a link to attend the memorial gathering virtually via Zoom, please register here: https://wustl.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bxboKNORS46AptI