SARASOTA, Fla. (Sept. 5, 2024)- It is not unusual for Sarasota Memorial caregivers to reach out into the community and raise awareness for patients battling various medical conditions. But every once in a while, the medical challenges impact our own physicians. That’s the case with Sara Karjoo, MD, who is in end-stage renal disease (ESRD 5) and in need of a kidney transplant.
Having battled autoimmune vasculitis since she was a teen, Dr. Karjoo’s own health challenges and experiences motivated her to pursue a career in medicine and inspired a career dedicated to patient advocacy and medical education. Dr. Karjoo has been caring for local children for the past 10 years, at SMH, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and her group specialty practice, Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology & Nutrition of Florida. Board certified in Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, and Obesity Medicine, she helped start Sarasota Memorial’s pediatric endoscopy program in 2017 and has spearheaded many other quality care initiatives that are enhancing and expanding care throughout southwest Florida.
While she continues to care for patients, Dr. Karjoo could also use our community’s help. She was added to Tampa General Hospital’s kidney transplant list in 2023. Unfortunately, family members who underwent testing were not a match for the live donor program. SMH, along with TGH and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, are sharing her story in an effort to raise awareness of the urgent need for more living donors to step up to help people like Dr. Karjoo in the Tampa Bay area.
Below is a poster with contact information. Please help spread the word with friends or colleagues to help raise awareness.
