Frances Krauskopf Conley

1940 - 2024

Frances Krauskopf Conley
08/12/1940 - 08/05/2024
Frances, "Frannie", Krauskopf Conley was a pioneer for female rights, and crucial in the advancement of woman in medicine. At her birth, in 1940, the career path for American woman in society was, often, limited to roles such as homemaker, teacher or nurse: Frannie was an iconoclast, who shattered several of society's preconceived notions for the role of a woman, and flourished in situations that many men thought to be impossible. With her passing, we celebrate an athlete, a leader in medicine and an inspiring person.
Frannie was the daughter of Konrad and Kathryn Krauskopf. She grew up in Palo Alto, CA living primarily on the Stanford campus. Konrad Krauskopf was a Stanford professor of geochemistry and, thus, Frannie was raised in an academic household. Fran attended Bryn Mawr College for two years, and then culminated her undergraduate education at Stanford University, receiving a B.A. with distinction in biology. While at college, Fran met her future husband, Phil Conley on a Stanford sport field. Phil Conley was an Olympic javelin thrower. Unintimidated by the Olympian, Fran boldly approached Phil, and asked to learn how to throw the javelin.
After college, Fran proceeded to Stanford Medical School. In 1975, Fran completed her residency in neurological surgery, having also spent time training in neurology, neuropathology, and she completed a clerkship at the National Hospital, London, England. Later, Fran received an M.S. in Management from Stanford's Graduate School of Business.
In 1961, Stanford Medical School was 85% male. Further, there was a broad presumption that female doctors would be limited to certain niches within medicine. Surgery was highly male dominated and, neurosurgery was clearly the elite bastion of men. Undeterred by the male bias, Fran selected to become a neurosurgeon: In 1977, she became only the fifth woman to be board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Fran proceeded, after medical school, to practice neurosurgery at Stanford hospital. Later, she became Stanford's first tenured, female professor of Neurosurgery, and the first woman to be granted a tenured professorship in neurosurgery at a U.S. medical school,
Despite facing material sexist attitudes, Fran maintained her professionalism. Frannie chronicled her experiences, and challenges, as a female neurosurgeon with her book, Walking Out on the Boys. Her book captured media attention, and Fran was interviewed by national publications including The Los Angeles Times and Time magazine.
Fran was a prodigious medical researcher: she published over 70 articles and over 50 medical abstracts, letters, and book reviews. Also, an experienced speaker, Frannie presented more than 60 papers at neurosurgical meetings. Her research interests centered on the immunology of brain tumors and spinal instrumentation. Fran was also on the editorial boards of the publications Neurosurgery, and American Family Physician. Finally, Frannie was the chair of the Stanford University Academic Council.
Fran held numerous leadership positions in her career. At Stanford, she has served actively on the Medical Faculty Senate and the Senate of the Academic Council. Further, Fran served on the Joint Neurosurgical Committee on Drugs and Devices. Additionally, Fran served as Chairman of Public Relations for both the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
As a talented athlete, Frannie desired to run Bay to Breakers. The obstacle, in 1970, this race was reserved for men. Not one to be deterred by a sexist rule, Frannie registered for the race as Francis, and concealed herself by running in a khaki raincoat. Once again breaking glass ceiling, the next year Bay to Breakers formally allowed female runners: in 1971, Frannie was the first, official, female winner of Bay to Breakers.
Once retired from medicine, Frannie and Phil moved from Palo Alto, CA to Sea Ranch, CA. Fran and Phil reveled in Sea Ranch's natural beauty and more tranquil lifestyle. In Sea Ranch, Fran continued her athletic pursuits, and often could be seen running with her husband and two loving Dalmatian companions. In her later years, Frannie transitioned to swimming for exercise. Later, despite her declining health, Frannie never lost her love for the people of Sea Ranch. Fran held a deep personal and professional kinship with Dr. Tom Bertolli. Juana Martinez met Frannie later in life: however, the two woman became close friends.
Frannie was predeceased by her husband, Phil Conley. Fran is survived by her siblings: Karen Hyde of Belvedere, CA, Karl Krauskopf of Jacksonville, OR, Marion Forester of Oceanside, CA and eight nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Redwood Coast Medical Services, RCMS, the primary medical services group on the North Coast. https://www.rcms-healthcare.org/donate.html