Who is Karl?
Dr. Karl Stockhausen wanted to spend his life in the service of healing others, especially in third world countries. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine, MD, from the American University of the Caribbean (AUC), and he twice joined surgical teams providing health care in Honduras. He also worked for three months in La Parroquia, Guatemala, assisting in free healthcare clinics for the indigenous community.
As part of his medical training, Stockhausen completed a clinical rotation in infectious diseases in Mumbai, India, a surgical and OB/GYN rotation and a rotation in an HIV outpatient health clinic in London, UK, and several rotations in New York City. He showed a particular passion for learning about international health systems, and made it a personal goal to have a hand in improving global health care.
He was 24 years old and in medical school when he was afflicted by Acute Multifocal Posterior Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy (AMPPPE), a rare eye disease that left him with blind spots in both eyes. This condition qualified him for special provisions in medical school, such as unlimited time to take tests, but he refused to make use of the exceptional treatment. His condition did not deter him; he kept on in medical school despite the handicap.
He was a fighter. He was diagnosed with cancer at age 26, but Karl finished and graduated medical school with honors while battling the cancer for two years without complaint. He had secured a prestigious Emergency Medicine residency at Einstein, Jacoby Medical Hospital in the Bronx, New York. Unfortunately, his cancer worsened and he was unable to begin his residency. The cancer took his life, but it did not diminish his indomitable spirit or will to be of service to others.
Even with the eye disease and cancer he was able to donate his corneas and gave sight to a man in Battle Creek, Michigan and a woman in New Milford, New Jersey. Having been treated at the Melanoma Clinic of the University of Michigan Cancer Center, he also donated his body to the University of Michigan Medical School. His choice to be a donor was the ultimate gift, which affected the lives of the medical students that learned from his body, and consequently the patients that those students treated when they became doctors.
Dr. Karl Stockhausen had a passion for helping others and fighting overwhelming odds to accomplish his goal. He was a driven and dedicated individual who always found time to give, even after tragically losing his life to cancer at the young age of 28.
The cancer took his life, but it did not diminish his indomitable spirit or will to be of service to others.
The White Coat Speech
One of the most memorable events in Karl’s life was when he was asked age 26 to deliver what is referred to as “the White Coat Speech” at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St. Maarten. This is a short presentation delivered by a senior medical student to first-year students.
“The whole point of the speech is to motivate them and get them excited about accomplishing lofty objectives and goals,” Bill Stockhausen said.
In the talk, Karl encouraged students to remember three words – contribute, discipline and humanize.
Dr. Karl Stockhausen Scholarship and Student of the Semester Award
Karl felt strongly about AUC giving those who didn’t have a chance at other schools to become a doctor, a chance at AUC. Karl had a strong drive to be of service to both his community and his school. He exemplified these attributes and as such the students of the American University of the Caribbean decided on their own to name the Student of the Semester Award after Karl when he died. You can see more about the Student of the Semester award here.
Through a generous benefactor, the Stockhausen family decided to start the Dr. Karl Stockhausen Scholarship to assist medical students at the American University of the Caribbean who have a strong dedication to the service of others and/or who have overcome, or continue to have, financial, physical, or cultural challenges on their way to becoming a physician in the service of others. You can see more about the Dr. Karl Stockhausen Scholarship here.
In Memoriam
Karl Francis Stockhausen died September 13, 2009 at the age of 28 from melanoma cancer. Over 800 people attended his funeral until there was standing room only. Karl was a doctor, avid climber, and constant traveler. He loved to travel and wanted to learn how other countries’ governments and health care systems worked to find a better solution for the future. You can find the Obituary and newspaper article here. Head to the Memorial section to see all of the remembrances left about Karl. There is also a video gallery, the eulogies from his funeral by Fr. Denis, his father Bill and his brother Stock.
Dedications
Karl left a mark on the world behind him. He inspired his class with his white coat speech telling them to contribute, discipline, and humanize. He was well-rounded and well-thought of - his realistic pessimistic, but caring, attitude made everyone take note of him. His mixture of confidence and humility set him apart as someone who was admirable. His voracious personality was always reading, taking photos, playing chess or poker, or challenging himself with rock climbing. His minimalist views meant that by the time he passed he only had a small trunk of personal effects as well as his clothes and gear.
When Karl passed others did not soon forget him. His friend Ted Nagorsen dedicated a crew boat to him in honor of Karl and the years that Karl spent on Clemson’s rowing crew. His friends and family went down to the Red River Gorge to leave him a climber tribute. Karl was signed up for Donate Life and his eyes went to the Michigan Eye bank helping two people, and his body was donated to the University of Michigan Anatomical Donations Program. His sister Juliet Culp then went on to help Gift of Life Michigan.
Karl left his body to science and you can find more information on that here.
