Gwen Campbell Claussen

Dr. Claussen was a dedicated, hardworking and deeply compassionate doctor, who was loved by her patients and everyone she met. She spent her first 26 years working at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center. She trained many young physicians while taking care of a large population of patients. While at UAB, Dr. Claussen established Alabama’s first Lou Gehrig’s (ALS) Multidisciplinary Clinic, bringing together several specialists under one roof to more effectively treat patients and study the deadly muscle-wasting disease. Dr. Claussen held the positions of Professor of Neurology, Director of ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic, Associate Director of Neuromuscular Pathology Laboratory, Associate Director of Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory, and Fellowship Director of Neuromuscular Medicine Program.

In 2014, she joined Alabama Neurology and Sleep Medicine in Tuscaloosa, a practice where 5 of the 6 partners had been students or residents who Dr. Claussen helped to train.

Dr. Claussen earned many awards and accolades through the years, but was most proud of the Argus Best Neurology Attending Teaching Awards presented by the residents at the end of each year.

Gwen is the daughter of Charles L. Campbell and Barbara H. Campbell-Lucken. She grew up in several cities, including Columbia, MO, Holland, MI, Hong Kong and Deland, FL. She graduated as valedictorian from Deland High School in 1980. She then attended Salem College in Winston Salem, NC where she graduated as Valedictorian with a degree in Chemistry.

Gwen entered Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest in 1984 and received her medical degree in 1988. While in medical school, Gwen was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha, a national medical honor society recognizing high educational achievement and honoring gifted teaching.

Gwen married Tom Claussen on July 6, 1985 and raised two sons, Matthew and Michael. They spent 32 wonderful years together. More than just a scholar, Gwen had passions for gardening, hiking, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, skiing, wine and reading.

She was also a travel enthusiast and planned several trips for the family. These included trips to Hawaii to swim at the beaches and watch the lava flows, a trip to Alaska where the family walked on glaciers, and a trip to Zion National Park in Utah to hike the canyon trails and visit Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. In 2015, for her 30th wedding anniversary, the family traveled to Italy where they took a wine tour, viewed several majestic churches and took in a professional European soccer match. Other trips included Banff & Jasper Canada, Cancun, Seattle, Napa Valley and many additional destinations. Gwen particularly enjoyed the family’s annual ski vacation in Colorado where the family would ski all day, enjoy the hot tub in the late afternoon and relax together in the evenings.

Gwen loved to garden and had extensive gardens at her home in Birmingham as well as a Lake Martin residence. She had a particular fondness for Red Maple trees, with a recent count showing at least 25 Red Maples in her gardens. Gwen’s final days were spent at her home on Lake Martin, gardening, reading, drinking some wine and enjoying her beloved dogs, Rusty and Lily. She was happy.

Gwen is survived by her husband, Tom Claussen; two sons, Michael of Hoover, AL; Matthew of Ocean Springs, MS (Taylor); her mother, Barbara Campbell-Lucken of Little Rock, AR (Lowell); brother Gregory Campbell, MD of Columbia, MO (Chrissie); sister Gail Stuart of Little Rock, AR (Chris); and her grandmother, Betty Hannah of Fayetteville, AR. Gwen is also survived by several cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

Visitation is Monday, April 16th from 6:00 – 8:00pm at Southern Heritage Funeral Home, 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, AL 35124.

A celebration of Gwen’s life will be held Tuesday, April 17th at 12:00pm at the Riverchase Campus of Church of the Highlands, 9013 Helena Road, Pelham, AL 35124.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the ALS Association or Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.