Susan L. Rattner, MD

Susan L. Rattner, MD of Media, PA died on December 22, 2022 at age 70 after a courageous 3 year battle with AL amyloidosis as well as more than 60 years of type 1 diabetes. She was born on August 8, 1952 in Troy, NY to Jerome Rattner and Florence Goldstein Rattner. She graduated from Troy High School (’70) and Union College (’74) (BS Biology, magna cum laude) where she was a member of the first class which included women. She attended Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons (P&S, ‘78) and married in 1976. She was elected to the medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha, while at P&S. She completed a residency in internal medicine at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in 1981. Susan was Board Certified in Internal Medicine and joined a faculty practice at Presbyterian for the next two years while her husband finished a cardiology fellowship and the couple welcomed a daughter. They moved to the Philadelphia suburbs where Susan joined the faculty at Hahnemann University; during this time the family grew to include another beautiful daughter. Susan joined the Dean’s Office at Hahnemann as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in 1987. In 1993, she earned an MS in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania and moved to Jefferson Medical College in 1994. She continued to practice internal medicine and work in the Jefferson Dean’s office where she rose to become Vice Dean for Academic Affairs/Undergraduate Medical Education. She was elected to Fellowship in the American College of Physicians in 1999. She was active in medical education with a particular interest in developing and mentoring young faculty. She published numerous articles in peer reviewed journals and was an editor of the book Professionalism in Medicine: The Case-based Guide for Medical Students. Susan was the recipient of several awards and honors including a Sidney Kimmel Medical College Career Educator Award. In 2016, she retired from Jefferson as Professor of Medicine. With a deep desire to continue caring for patients in need, she joined the physician staff in Women’s Health at the Philadelphia VA. She also volunteered in internal medicine at the Community Volunteers in Medicine clinic in West Chester, PA. She was a long time faculty advisor for the Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), enjoying contact with physicians from around the globe until the end of her life.

Susan was the beloved wife of Kenneth Mendel, MD; loving mother of Jennifer Mendel Whitehill, PhD (Ethan Todras-Whitehill) and Judith (Robert) Van Alstyne, MPH; cherished grandmother of Tessa, Wesley and Alexander; devoted sister of Laurie (John) Schatzberg, PhD and Ellen (Gilbert) Zmithrovitch; loved daughter of Florence and the late Jerome Rattner. Friends and Family are invited to services Monday, December 26th, 11:00AM, Joseph Levine & Sons, 2811 West Chester Pike, Broomall, PA. Interment at Mt. Sharon Cemetery. Shiva will be held at the late residence Tuesday 12/27 and Wednesday 12/28 from 7-9 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Susan’s memory may be made to Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) (www.cvim.org).