DR. ANDREW SIMON WARNER

WARNER, Dr. Andrew Simon Trusted Gastroenterologist, Devoted Husband and Father Dr. Andrew Simon Warner, Chief Emeritus of Gastroenterology at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, compassionate and deeply loved physician, nationally recognized specialist in inflammatory bowel disease, mentor of countless gastroenterology fellows and staff and cherished husband and father, died June 10, 2024, at his home in Carlisle, MA, of pancreatic cancer. He was 62. Born in Newark, New Jersey, as the son of Richard Warner and the late Rochelle (Roth) Warner, Dr. Warner grew up in Framingham, MA, graduating from Framingham South High School in 1979. He then attended Skidmore College, where he was a biology-psychology major and elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated in 1983 and went on to the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University to earn his M.D. degree in 1987. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the Mount Auburn Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Cambridge from 1987 until 1990 and a fellowship in Gastroenterology at the Lahey Clinic from 1990-1992. He started on staff as a gastroenterologist at Lahey in 1992. In 1999, he became Chief of Gastroenterology, becoming one of the youngest department chairs in Lahey's history. It was a position he maintained for the next 25 years. As Chief, Dr. Warner expanded the Lahey gastroenterology department into its current state of excellence, displaying extraordinary leadership skills and always advocating for those in his department. Lahey gastroenterology became a prominent referral center, with patients traveling from all over the Northeast to be seen. Working on the cutting edge of clinical research and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, he became a nationally recognized authority on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis as well as a highly skilled endoscopist, having performed over 50,000 procedures. He was sought after and loved by his patients, some of whom were under his care for over 30 years. Dr. Warner also oversaw several major projects in the department, including building a new state-of-the-art endoscopy center and a dedicated Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. Dr. Warner had many other career accomplishments. He was a successful author, publishing 100 Questions on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which has sold over 100,000 copies. Dr. Warner was honored by his beloved Skidmore College with the Distinguished Achievement Award, in recognition for translating his Skidmore experience into a lifetime of outstanding achievement in professional work. He was also elected chair of the American Medical Group Association's Public Policy Committee and made numerous presentations to the U.S. Congress. Establishing himself as one of the nation's leading advocates for patient-centric care, he revolutionized a new approach to health care policy. He firmly believed that "every physician should be a patient advocate, because the patient comes first." Dr. Warner was a devoted physician, one who truly cared about his patients as well as his staff. He touched the lives of many patients, trainees, staff, nurses and colleagues. As a mentor and confidant, he was always supportive and had an open door for those who needed to sit and talk. He had a great sense of humor and will always be remembered for his dry wit and eagerness to share a joke. He leaves a great legacy in the medical field. Dr. Warner shared 30 years of marriage with the love of his life, Dr. Ann Schrager Warner, whom he met at Lahey's staff orientation on the day they both became staff physicians. The couple settled in Carlisle and had two sons. Dr. Warner had an unparalleled dedication to his family as a loving husband and father. A devoted golf enthusiast, he also enjoyed long walks in the countryside, especially with his beloved golden retrievers. He and his family also enjoyed traveling and especially treasured their multiple trips to Nantucket, Florida, the Caribbean and the Maine coast. Dr. Warner is survived by his wife, Dr. Ann Schrager Warner; and their two sons, David of Carlisle, MA and Jacob "Jake" of New York, NY. He is also survived by his father, Richard Warner; his sister, Suzanne Warner; and his brother-in-law, Brad Abernathy, all of Boca Raton, FL. Relatives, colleagues and friends will gather for a Memorial Service and Reception in Celebration of Andy's Life at the Nashawtuc Country Club, 1861 Sudbury Road, Concord, on Friday, June 14, beginning at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving a gift in memory of Dr. Warner to the Lahey Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center or the Lahey Endoscopy Center, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805. Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of CONCORD. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in his online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com