Doris Gorka Bartuska, 84, physician

Doris Gorka Bartuska, 84, of East Falls, a physician who balanced career with family long before most women did, died Sunday, Aug. 4, of complications from lymphoma at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Bartuska pursued a career as a doctor because she loved medicine and thrived on teaching. She chose endocrinology because she thought it would give her more time to raise a family.

She and her husband, Anthony J. Bartuska, whom she married in 1951, had six daughters. The first arrived between her third and fourth years at Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania; three more were born during her internship and residency; the rest arrived later. She began practicing medicine in 1958.

Juggling career with family was made possible, she always said, by the efforts of her husband, who managed the household.

"We have memories of dropping her off at the college on Sundays, after Mass, when she had rounds to do, and then her walking home to have Sunday brunch," her family said in a statement.

Dr. Bartuska was born in Nanticoke, Pa., into a Catholic family in a Polish community. She showed an aptitude for piano and organ, but studied biology at Bucknell Junior College, now Wilkes University. Dr. Charles Reif encouraged her to go into medicine even though it was not a routine career for women.

Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania was a nurturing environment for women, she told family. She earned her medical degree there. The school is now Drexel University College of Medicine. She was assistant and associate dean of medicine when it was still Women's.

Dr. Bartuska was a skilled diagnostician. Once, on the phone with a patient, she heard someone coughing in the background and diagnosed whooping cough in the patient's daughter, sight unseen, her family said.

Dr. Bartuska was president of the American Medical Women's Association in 1988, and at various times president of the Philadelphia County Medical Society and the Philadelphia Endocrine Society.

She received the Strittmatter Award from the Philadelphia County Medical Society and the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, and was selected for membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Dr. Bartuska was known for her daily walks around East Falls, always wearing a hat. She enjoyed Polish music and dance, especially the oberek. She was an accomplished musician and vocalist.

After her husband died in 2002, Dr. Bartuska took up tap dancing at the Philadelphia Senior Center on Broad Street.

Surviving are daughters Ann Marie, Karen Herrmann, Christina Kistler, and Mia Finkelston; nine grandchildren; a great-grandchild; a brother; a sister; and nieces and nephews. Two daughters, Kathleen and Lisa Ann Shorrock, died earlier.

Visitations will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, and 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at the McIlvaine Funeral Home, 3711 Midvale Ave. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at St. Bridget Roman Catholic Church, 3667 Midvale Ave. Interment will be in Nanticoke. Ladies attending may wear a hat in her honor.

Donations may be made to Philadelphia County Medical Society, 2100 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia 19130.

Condolences to the family may be offered at www.mcilvainefuneralhomes.com.