Saint Francis One Year Later: Remembering Dr. Stephanie Husen

June 1 marks one year since a gunman shot and killed four people at a doctor’s office in the Natalie Building on the Saint Francis Tulsa campus.

One of the victims was 48-year-old Doctor Stephanie Husen, who was working in the office as a sports medicine physician.

Her alma mater, Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa, now has a memorial scholarship in her honor to help students follow their passion.

Loved ones share with News On 6 how we all can "live like Steph."

In just 48 years, Dr. Husen was able to make a lasting impact on so many people.

"She was just full of joy and light, and I think that's why so many of us want to keep her memory present, is because it's a model for how to live our own lives and how to find fulfillment and joy in our lives even in our sorrow of her loss,” said Dr. Amanda Martin, who went to school at OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa with Dr. Husen. 

Dr. Martin said they became best friends, and Dr. Husen was the maid of honor at her wedding.

She remembers the moment she found out her friend was killed while working at Saint Francis.

"I started grieving for her mom and her dad and her brother, AC, and Jeff and her nieces and nephews and all of her patients and the community of Tulsa who truly lost one of the best people I've ever met in my life,” said Dr. Martin.

Dr. Husen was born in Ohio, graduated from Ponca City High School in 1992, then got her degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Oklahoma. 

After a car crash, she was inspired to become a doctor, graduating from Oklahoma State University College of Medicine in 2004. 

She did a residency in South Carolina, then worked in Oklahoma City before moving to Tulsa. 

Dr. Husen was a sports medicine physician at Saint Francis Warren Clinic for seven years. 

“Hard to reflect on and accept that someone who was so dedicated and to the service of others is no longer there serving their community,” said Dr. Natasha Bray, who is Dr. Martin's older sister and was mentor to Dr. Husen at OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa.

Dr. Bray said she and her sister want Dr. Husen's family to know how much their daughter, sister and aunt meant to our community.

The Husen family is asking for privacy as they mourn while working with state and local leaders on ways to prevent another tragedy.

"June 2nd is National Gun Violence Awareness Day,” said Dr. Bray. “It's a day that we would ask everyone in our community to wear orange to honor Dr. Husen's memory but also to increase awareness about the importance gun safety and making sure that we're creating safe homes and safe communities." 

After Dr. Husen's death, her classmates worked with the OSU Foundation to establish the Dr. Stephanie Husen Memorial Scholarship. 

More than 150 donors have given over $60,000. The first recipients will be chosen during the next school year.

"The scholarship was established to support students who are pursuing an osteopathic medical degree, so they have less of a financial burden and are able to really engage and pursue their passion and serve their communities in the way that Dr. Husen has,” said Dr. Bray.

Nearly a year later, as loved ones continue to hurt, they are also trying to live out Dr. Husen’s legacy. 

"I think if you were interviewing her, she would say that she wants people to care about one another,” said Dr. Bray. “She wants people to heal and find hope and hopefully learn that small acts of kindness really do make the world a better place." 

During a dark time for many, Dr. Husen remains a bright light leading them to hope. 

"I heard someone say that grief is just love unfinished, and so I think in some ways, we'll feel that grief forever because this was a person so worthy of love, but then I turn my attention to, 'How would Stephanie do things, what Stephanie do?' And focus all of that on the people that are here," said Dr. Martin.

Husen Family Statement To Media

Over 40 authors of the Bible have written that it is God’s plan to save the lives of his children. 

We believe His heart is broken when evil walks in with an automatic rifle and takes the lives of innocent victims young and old every day in America. 

Our Stephanie did not deserve to die at work caring for her patients on June 1, 2022, nor do over 120 people a day in our country. 

Stephanie spent 13 years of higher education to reach her goal to become a medical doctor to care for others. 

Caring, loving and giving of herself for others was her mission in life. She was kind and generous to everyone. Those who knew her, loved her and she loved them right back. Stephanie should not be gone from us. While we are very grateful for the gift of having had her in our lives, we long for the new memories that were left to be made.

Because our family is seeking to raise awareness and find solutions to stop gun violence, we are trying to educate ourselves on the issues surrounding this problem.

Gun violence is a multifaceted problem that we believe should be discussed in a bipartisan atmosphere to find common sense solutions. The silent majority must use their voices. 

Please do not think “there is nothing I can do.” Go to oklegislature.gov to find your legislator and let them know that gun safety and the issue of gun violence is important to you. Please remember this issue and the response or lack of response, you receive from your legislator when considering a vote in the next elections. 

Our family now tries to focus our grief on helping to prevent another shooting and loss of innocent lives. What can each of us do going forward to make our communities and workplaces safer? Pay attention to what is happening around you. Every workplace, school, church, library, event center, medical facility, and shopping mall needs to be training staff to report belligerent or threatening behaviors they witness or threats seen on social media. 

See something, say something. We need to identify and help people before they are so desperate to buy a gun to harm themselves or others. We need secure places to work and spend our leisure time. Door locks, panic buttons, cameras, metal detectors, can all help deter an intruder. 

Does this cost money? Yes. But what is the value of a life, or 4 or 20 lives ended in a flash of an automatic rifle?

There are two things we want to draw attention to this week on the first anniversary of the mass shooting in the Natalie building on the St Francis campus. We have learned of a national campaign that honors the victims and survivors of gun violence, calls for gun safety such as proper storage and gun locks, and raises awareness of gun violence in our country. 

The event is June 2, National Gun Violence Awareness Day and June 3,4 “wear orange” weekend. Orange is the color hunters wear for safety in their sport. This weekend it represents gun safety and much more. 

We have asked Mayor G.T. Bynum and other city leaders around the state to issue a proclamation declaring June 2, 2023 as Gun Violence Awareness Day and June 3-4, 2023, as Wear Orange weekend. 

During June 2-4, 2023, people wearing orange, homes and businesses with signs and buildings lit orange can show their support for gun violence victims and survivors.

Another program launched nationwide this last year is the 988 Mental Health Lifeline. It is a new mental health resource for all Oklahomans who may be experiencing or witnessing a mental health crisis. There is more information at 988oklahoma.com. We hope it will be a resource for families, employees, students, and those who need help coping in any situation. 

Our family morns for all victims of gun violence in our nation but especially Dr Preston Phillips, our daughter, Dr. Stephanie Husen, Ms. Amanda Glenn, and Mr. William Love. 

Please help change this epidemic in our country. We must respect and value all human life. Pray for common sense solutions and resources to be available to end gun violence.

Greg & Joyce Husen for the Husen Family

In loving memory of Dr Stephanie Husen