Remembering Dr. Kathryn Rouine-Rapp

The Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care mourns the loss of Kathryn Rouine-Rapp, MD, a leader in anesthesia care for both adult and pediatric patients. She passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2025.

Dr. Rouine-Rapp, also known as KRR, began her medical practice as a nurse, earning her BSN at Lowell State College in Massachusetts. After receiving her medical degree at Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, she moved to San Francisco to complete an internal medicine internship at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital. She then completed her Anesthesia Residency at UCSF in 1990, followed by a transesophageal echocardiography and pediatric and adult cardiac anesthesia fellowship, concurrently serving as a clinical instructor for our department.

Rouine-Rapp was a superb clinician, revered for her exceptional skills and dedication to her patients, students, and her family. Throughout her illustrious career spanning over three decades and serving in many roles, including as Interim Chief of Pediatric Cardiac and as Director of Prepare, she treated countless patients, mentored numerous clinicians, authored various scientific publications, and excelled as an administrative leader.

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Rouine-Rapp combined humanity and science with extraordinary hard work to deliver the best possible care for her patients. Colleagues admired her for her meticulous, astute, and compassionate approach to clinical care. Early in her career, as pediatric cardiac anesthesiology emerged as a new subspecialty, Rouine-Rapp meticulously prepared for each surgical case, bringing detailed handwritten index cards to the operating room, describing the patient’s medical history, family’s preferences, and surgical steps needed to correct the cardiac defects. Her exceptional communication skills made her a favorite among interdisciplinary teams and families alike.

Rouine-Rapp was also a passionate and dedicated educator. She believed deeply in the power of knowledge and had a unique ability to tailor her teaching to the specific needs of each learner. She significantly impacted medical education by developing curricula, including the highly regarded medical school course Anesthesia 140.09, and leading the advanced anesthesia training program in pediatric cardiac anesthesia. Her commitment to teaching earned her the prestigious William K. Hamilton Award for Excellence in Teaching, a recognition she cherished deeply.

She moderated innumerable medical student, anesthesiology resident, and fellow lectures and workshops and taught non-anesthesia physicians, such as pediatric trainees, clinical skills for airway management and advanced cardiovascular life support. She was well known nationally for important contributions to the care of children undergoing heart surgery and served on influential education-related committees, contributing pediatric cardiac anesthesia-related questions for the National Board of Echocardiography.

As a leader, Rouine-Rapp was fair, professional, and transparent, always prioritizing the well-being of her team. She applied her expertise to manage clinical questions, communication, and conflicts effectively in the operating room. She led, by example, meeting the demands of administrative responsibilities and clinical scheduling. She was approachable, collaborative, and frequently helped to foster quality improvement projects by others.

Rouine-Rapp’s impact was immense at the local level. She served “as both an example and an inspiration.” She mentored and coached many, if not all, of the faculty on the pediatric cardiac anesthesia team, along with many anesthesia trainees who are now faculty in our department, as well as faculty from other subspecialties, including pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, pediatric cardiology, and pediatric critical care. Some of these physicians have moved on to lead at other children’s hospitals or academic centers. Rouine-Rapp also helped to establish an internal coaching program for anesthesia faculty at all stages of their careers, to improve their well-being.

During her 30-year tenure on faculty, Rouine-Rapp was a leader, beloved colleague, clinical researcher, mentor, and teacher. Despite her seriousness about clinical care and education, Dr. Rouine-Rapp also knew when to embrace humor and humility. Her resilience, flexibility, and compassion made her a role model to many generations of anesthesiologists. She was a beacon of knowledge, leadership, and human kindness. Dr. Kathryn Rouine-Rapp’s legacy will continue to inspire and influence us. We mourn her loss deeply and extend our heartfelt sympathies to her family and all who were fortunate enough to know her.

If you would like to make a donation to the Dr. Rouine-Rapp endowment, please visit UCSF giving. Note: Please enter "Dr. Kathryn Rouine-Rapp Endowment" in the gift comments