Ekrem Gozum, M.D.

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Gozum, Ekrem M.D. Accomplished Head and Neck Surgeon, age 89, passed away peacefully in his home in Edina on May 12, 2017. Survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Mary (Lucken) Gozum, children John, Greta and Stephanie; grandchildren Jason, Gabriel, Matthew, and Kathryn; and siblings Keriman, Gurman, and Sukran. Preceded in death by his parents, Maksut and Ayse Gozum. Dr. Gozum was a native of Erzurum, Turkey, where he pursued his medical studies at the University of Istanbul, Turkey, earning his Medical Degree in 1952. After completing his internship at the University Hospital of Istanbul, Dr. Gozum came to the US in 1952 where he pursued a fellowship in Otolaryngology at the University of Minnesota. He became a Board Diplomate of Otolaryn-gology at the University in 1956, and taught at the University of Minne-sota Medical School. In 1958, he married his wife and soul mate, Mary, a Bacteriologist at Midway Hospital. Additional post-graduate education included studies in ear surgery at Northwestern University in 1959, and head and neck surgery at Columbia University in 1963. He was an active contributor to the advancement of medicine and had the honor of speaking at meetings for various professional associations including the American Otorhinologists Society for Plastic Surgery, Inc., and the American Society of Facial and Plastic Surgery. Dr. Gozum established his first practice in 1958, at the Minot Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic and became a chief resident after two years training at St. Joseph's and Trinity Hospitals, covering mostly Anchor Hospital, and surgical days at St. Joseph's and Miller Hospitals. He served as a member of the Minot cleft palate team and as a consulting surgeon for the John Moses Air Force Hospital. In 1965, Dr. Gozum moved to Edina and joined Drs. Glaser and Smith on the staff for St. Mary's Hospital, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, North Memorial Hospital, and Fairview Southdale Hospital. Shortly thereafter he started his own private practice and opened offices at North Memorial, Oxboro Clinic, and Fairview Southdale Hospital. Dr. Gozum was an accomplished surgeon with unusual ambidexterity, speed and precision. He was deeply devoted to his patients and took great pride in his surgical skill, which often allowed cancer patients to lead a full life after their diagnosis. He continued private practice at Fairview Southdale Hospital until retiring in 1997. Dr. Gozum loved to travel and spoke seven languages, several fluently. In the 1960s and early 70s, he utilized his fluency in French through serving as a French translator of medical literature for the Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology. One of Dr. Gozum's lifelong, favorite pastimes was playing chess. He held an expert rating and competed and won numerous chess tournaments and later, senior titles through his 80s; he had many other hobbies including skiing, soccer, and tennis in his younger years, and most recently swimming and golf. Ekrem Gozum was a dedicated and deeply caring husband, father, and grandfather. Friends and family will remember him for his passion for knowledge, uncanny sense of intuition, kind heart, and incredible devotion to family. He will be dearly missed by many! Services will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at the Church of St. Patrick, 6820 St. Patricks Lane, Edina, MN 55439. Visitation will be 1 hour before the mass. Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

Published on May 15, 2017