Born 12-20-1931 in Argentina – Died 4-5-22 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Dr. Lozzio came to Tennessee in the mid 1960’s and made Knoxville her home. She first joined the University of Tennessee in 1965 as a Research Associate at the Memorial Research Center in Knoxville. Her research work involved isolating cells from a leukemia patient and establishing the K-562 cell line. These cells have been used in scientific studies in laboratories around the world. These cultured cells continue to be used for the development of new treatments for cancer.
Dr. Lozzio had a vision for a center that would provide services to the people of East Tennessee. She brought together a team of professionals at the UT Medical Center in Knoxville in one place first named The Birth Defects Center, and then renamed the Developmental and Genetic Center. The multi-disciplinary approach provided much more than a diagnosis to families and patients. There were the laboratories that performed the high complexity tests for traditional cytogenetics, molecular and metabolic tests. Dr. Lozzio saw the need for so much more support and had staff that included a psychologist, a nutritionist, social workers, speech and hearing specialist, and genetic counseling. She wanted to provide resources to help families meet the challenges of serious health consequences with a genetic diagnosis. Her work as a medical doctor certified in Medical Genetics and Cytogenetics impacted so many; she worked tirelessly on the behalf of her patients showing devotion, compassion, respect, and giving hope. It was a huge loss when the center closed.
She led a pilot project in 2004 and 2005 in conjunction with Vanderbilt Genetic Center, Genetic Center at UT Memphis, Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities at UT Memphis, and Center for Child Development at Vanderbilt University to develop Health Information Technology infrastructure in Tennessee to promote and improve the safety and quality of health care for children with special health care needs. She recognized how critical time could be. A rapid response was essential to provide treatment with an outcome of relatively normal development versus mental retardation or even death in some cases. She saw that information technology was key for communication of the children’s previous diagnostic tests to providers.
Beyond her professional life, Carmen Lozzio was devoted to her church home at St Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church. She visited homebound members and was a greeter.
She is survived by her beloved daughter Grace Lozzio who lives in California.
God has gathered her into a loving embrace after a long life of serving others.
Memorial donations may be given to St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, 110 Sugarwood Drive, Knoxville, TN 37934. A celebration of her life is to be arranged St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church at a later date.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com for the Lozzio family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5