Professor of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine
Passed by the IU Indianapolis Faculty Council at their meeting on September 1, 2015.
Dr. Dolores Faye Cikrit was born March 7, 1954 in Havre, Montana near the family ranch. Dolores was the cherished only child of James and Florence Cikrit Lukaszek. She grew up in Big Sandy, Montana. Dolores lost her father from a chronic illness when she was only 14. She and her mother ran the family farm, often from a distance, during her training and medical career. She did attempt to vacation in Big Sandy for a few weeks during the summer to oversee the ranch and reconnect to her rural roots.
Dolores graduated Valedictorian from Big Sandy High School in 1972. She received a B.A. degree from Carroll College in Helena, Montana in 1976 and was accepted to Medical School at the University of Colorado in Denver. She graduated with her medical degree in 1980. We were fortunate to have Dolores matriculate to the Indiana University School of Medicine with completion of her surgical internship in 1981 and General Surgery residency/chief residency in 1985. Her colleagues enjoyed her sense of humor and ability to make cheesecake and then share it. Dr. John E. Jesseph and Dr. Jay L. Grosfeld served as surgical chairs during her training years. Her excellent surgical skills were evident even early in training, and she chose to enter the technically demanding field of Vascular Surgery. She was accepted to the University of Missouri Medical Center under the tutelage of Dr. Donald Silver. She completed the 2 year fellowship in Vascular Surgery in 1987. Even more fortunate for Indiana University, Dr. Michael C. Dalsing, Director of the Division of Vascular Surgery, was able to recruit Dolores back as the other vascular surgeon to complete the entire divisional staff at that time. Dr. Cikrit rapidly advanced academically from Assistant Professor of Surgery to Associate Professor with tenure in 1992. She attained the rank of Full Professor with tenure in 1997.
Dr. Cikrit was truly a special surgeon. She was triple boarded with recertification at the appropriate times in Vascular Surgery, General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. She was a member of all the prestigious general surgical societies including but not limited to the American College of Surgeons, Association of Veterans Administration Surgeons, Central Surgical Association, Society of University Surgeons, and Midwest Surgical Society. She was also an active member of the major vascular surgical societies including the Society for Vascular Surgery, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society, and the Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society. Dolores was a member of the Society for Surgical Education, education being a keen interest of hers, and the Society for Critical Care Medicine.
Dr. Cikrit’s skill and commitment to educating our next generation of physicians is best chronicled in the many teaching awards she received over the years. She was awarded the Outstanding Professor of Surgery by the Medical Class of 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2010. She received the Teaching Excellence Recognition Award from the Indiana University Medical Center in 1997. Dolores received the Resident Appreciation Award from the IU Department of Surgery Chief Residents for being the Most Influential Surgical Professor in 2002, and received the Resident Appreciation Award “Best Faculty of the Year” from the IU Department of Surgery Chief Residents in 2008. In 2013, the IU Department of Surgery awarded her the Excellence in Resident Teaching Award, and she received the prestigious “IU Trustee’s Teaching Award” from the IU School of Medicine and Department of Surgery in 2014. To honor her dedication to education and her memory, the Dolores Faye Cikrit Memorial Scholarship has been established and for more information on supporting this effort please contact IU Vascular Surgery.
In addition to being a skilled surgeon and admired educator, Dr. Cikrit took on the leadership role of Chief of Surgery at the Roudebush VA Hospital in 1995 which she held until her death in 2015. She felt it an honor to serve those who served us so admirably as a part of our military force. She could speak frankly to each veteran about his or her need for medical support and assistance in times of poor health. She was a staunch advocate for the veteran on all fronts and took time to make each one she encountered feel special.
Dr. Cikrit was a consummate academic and over her career accomplished much. She made over 40 presentations locally, regionally and nationally on a variety of surgical topics most notably in the vascular field. She was a principal investigator on six VA grants as well as co-principal investigator on two others. She was actively involved in over 15 other grants during her tenure. She published nine book chapters. Dolores also published 77 journal articles (with the majority on vascular surgical topics) and was the first author of 29.
Accomplishments in a career are laudable but in the final analysis, Dolores knew that family was most important. She met Joseph L. Schmit, her future husband, during her time in Columbia, Missouri. They were wed on November 16, 1996. The joys children add to a marriage were cherished by both Dolores and Joe. In 2004, they adopted Sara Ann, orphaned at birth in China, and did not want Sara to be an “only child” so Anna Rose, also orphaned in China, was welcomed into the family in 2011. Dolores loved spending time with her family and the girls generally mimicked her style and flair. They spent time yearly during summers in Big Sandy and took many trips to enjoy the beach in Florida. Dolores enjoyed hiking, camping, gardening, cooking, sewing, reading, and the movies. She and Sara would watch movies on Saturday night with the greatest of zeal.
Her colleagues will miss her humor, commitment to students, willingness to help, and “retroperitoneal exposure” for anything aortic. She was a valued colleague, trusted friend and talented surgeon. She will be missed greatly but would want us to remember: “Don’t cry because it is over, smile because it happened”.
Prepared by
Dr. Michael C. Dalsing
Dr. Alan P. Sawchuk
Dr. Michael P. Murphy
Dr. Gary W. Lemmon
Dr. Raghu Motaganahalli
Dr. Andres Fajardo
Dr. George A. Akingba
Dr. Alok Gupta
Be it here resolved that this Memorial Resolution be adopted by the Faculty Council of Indiana University – Purdue University at Indianapolis, and that a copy be sent to Mr. Joseph L. Schmit and their daughters, Sara and Anna. (7023 Normandy Way, Indianapolis, IN. 46278)