Kate Granger, British physician and fundraiser, Died at 34

Kate Miriam Granger was born on October 31, 1981, and died on July 23, 2016.

She was an English geriatrician and campaigner for better patient care.

Kate was diagnosed with desmoplastic small-round-cell tumor (DSRCT), a type of sarcoma, in 2011 and subsequently started the “#hellomynameis” campaign, encouraging healthcare staff to introduce themselves to patients.

Kate also raised over £250,000 for cancer research.

Granger was originally from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

She studied at the University of Edinburgh, obtaining a BSc in Pharmacology in 2002 and a MBChB in 2005.

After graduation, she returned to West Yorkshire to work, obtaining a position with the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield.

In July 2011, she became ill when on holiday in California with her husband Chris Pointon.

Kate was treated in the Emergency Room in Santa Cruz when her kidneys failed.

Then after going back to Leeds and was given further tests. When she was told the diagnosis she knew that DSRCT that had metastasized had “an utterly dismal prognosis”.

She was treated with P6 protocol chemotherapy and endured painful treatments which she described in detail in her blog “The Other Side and the Bright Side.

During 2014, the NHS England created the Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care.

This type of annual awards are in honour of Granger to “recognize an individual, team or organization that has made a positive difference to patient care”.

Granger was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to the NHS and improving care.

Her award was presented to her at Buckingham Palace by the Prince of Wales, in June 2015.

Near 2015 Kate was made an honorary Doctor of Science by London South Bank University.

Kate Granger received a special achievement award from the BMJ, in 2016, honouring her for her work on the “Hello, my name is” campaign.

Kate Granger passed away at 34 years old.