Healthcare mourns unexpected death of 36-year-old Minnesota radiologist

The healthcare community is mourning the loss of Gretchen Butler, MD, a 36-year-old radiologist and mother of three, who died March 5 by suicide.

Three Weill Cornell Medicine radiologists commemorated her life in an editorial published Tuesday, calling Butler’s death “an incredible tragedy.”

“There are no words to express the depth of loss that her family has suffered, there are no words sufficient with which to express our condolences,” Elizabeth Kagan Arleo, Katia Dodelzon and Geraldine McGinty wrote March 16 in the New York Roentgen Society’s official journal. “As the underlying mission of Clinical Imaging is to positively impact patient care as well as the profession of radiology overall, the journal invites brief communications to recognize Dr. Butler's career as a physician, a breast imager and a woman in radiology, and to promote discourse about what our specialty might possibly do to potentially help prevent tragedies such as these in the future.”

In an obituary published by the St. Cloud Times, family members called Butler an “adventurous spirit” and “bright star who burned out too soon.” She earned her doctor of medicine degree from Creighton University, completing her residency and fellowship at the University of Minnesota before working at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis. Along the way, she earned honors as chief resident, teaching resident of the year and radiology resident of the year.

Butler loved working with her patients in breast imaging and particularly her time at the Hennepin County Medical Center. There, she addressed the causes that meant the most to her, including women’s health, accessibility, and meaningful relationships between patients and physicians, according to the obituary.

“Her strong work ethic, openness to other perspectives and eye for detail made Gretchen an excellent radiologist and an entertainer extraordinaire,” the family noted. “The only thing better than having Gretchen attend your party was having her plan it!”

Members of Minnesota’s healthcare community shared their memories on Legacy.com and social media last week.

“The immense tragedy of physician suicide hits home. The @HennepinHC family is completely heartbroken by [the] loss of the brilliant Dr. Gretchen Butler,” Gopal Punjabi, MD, chair of the health system’s department of radiology, shared March 8. “She was truly the best of us.”

Jennifer DeCubellis, the CEO of Hennepin since February 2020, did not know Butler personally, but she has seen the mark the young radiologist left.

“Across our entire organization in the wake of her loss, it is truly clear what an impactful soul she was—to colleagues, to our community, and to every patient she touched,” DeCubellis wrote in a Legacy.com remembrance left March 9.

“Writing this tweet hurts. Like many of my colleagues @HennepinHC and @UMNRadiology, I am devastated by the loss of Dr. Gretchen Butler,” Michael Brydone-Jack, MD, chief resident with the University of Minnesota’s Department of Radiology shared March 10. “She was a bright light in our dark reading rooms. She was a mentor and a friend. You are all so loved. Please reach out.”