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Megan Madaras Obituary
She graduated from Hampton Roads Academy, Washington University in St. Louis with a BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering, and the University of Virginia School of Medicine where she earned her medical degree.
In 2012, Dr. Madaras moved to Richmond to work at the Veteran's Central Virginia Health Care System, bringing her closer to her family in Yorktown. She initially focused on clinical care and teaching as an academic hospitalist, earning the Best Teacher in General Medicine Clerkship award from Virginia Commonwealth University Health Care System in 2015. She was later recruited as the Associate Chief of the Clinical Command Center, where she applied her creativity and compassion to improve healthcare systems.
The Covid pandemic was a difficult time for Dr. Madaras, as it was for all providers. She never wavered in the face of the pandemic and worked tirelessly to save lives. She would want to thank all her colleagues who stood shoulder to shoulder with her through the pandemic.
In her free time Dr. Madaras served as a volunteer Medical Director for the Free Clinic in Charlottesville for over thirteen years, touching innumerable lives.
Beyond her professional achievements, Megan made a difference in many other ways. She created a pollinator garden, served as an election official, and could always be found speaking up for those without a voice. She loved traveling and exploring cultures around the world with her mother, Judy, her Aunt Kathy, and friends. She was a regular at her local gym, RVA Performance Training. Whenever she had the chance, she could be found pouring over recipes and cookbooks as well as cooking and baking with her mother.
Megan is survived by her parents, Eric and Judy Madaras of Yorktown, Virginia; her two brothers, David (Amanda) Madaras from Ketchum, Idaho, and Scott Madaras from Albuquerque, New Mexico; niece Charlie (three); and nephew Gus (one). She was fond of her Aunt Kathy (Bruce) Mitton from Tucson, Arizona; second Cousin Carolyn Klamp; and many other relatives. Megan had deep friendships formed throughout her life, career, and service. Special thanks to Dr. Katherine Coffey-Vega, Dr. Trishana Glover, Dr. Seth Brant, and Jen King for their devotion during her passing.
In her memory, Megan would request that you perform an act of kindness for someone who needs your help and get in your 30 minutes of exercise to "prevent your decline and decay!" Dr. Megan Madaras will be remembered as a brilliant academic, a dedicated physician, a passionate advocate, and a loving family member and friend. Her legacy of kindness, strength, and enthusiasm for life will live on in all who knew her.
A celebration of Megan's life will be held Friday, June 14th at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden at 1:30 p.m. in the Robin Room with a reception to follow. Friends and family are invited to visit the grounds of the Botanical Garden before and after the celebration as this was a very special place for Megan.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Megan Madaras
Gary Brandenburger
January 2, 2025
I feel privileged to have had Megan as a student in my BME 201 class at Washington University in St. Louis in 2004. She radiated an especially upbeat demeanor. In my last email to Megan informing her of her grade (A, of course), she thanked me for being her teacher. Few students are so thoughtful and kind.
Megan's father, Eric, and I were fellow grad students in Prof. Jim Miller's Laboratory for Ultrasonics at Washington U decades earlier. Clearly, the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
I send my deepest sympathy to Eric, Judy and their family. I hope they can find some peace and solace knowing that their daughter, in her brief life, made a much bigger and more important contribution to betterment of our world than most people do in a long lifetime.
Mark Ruggiero
December 2, 2024
I met Megan at Washington University where we both worked at the Alumni House. She was very sweet and kind, and an excellent worker. I'm not at all surprised that she accomplished all she did since then. This is such a sad loss. My heart goes out to her friends and family.
Beth Carta
June 29, 2024
I worked with Megan on 3west at UVA. She was kind, professional, attentive, smart, funny and a great patient advocate. I am so saddened by this news. She made everyone's job easier with her amazing smile. I will miss her and I won't forget her. Deepest sympathies to her family and friends. Such sad news.
C. Austin
June 26, 2024
I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Madaras and I can attest to the kind, wonderful, giving person she was. She will be truly missed and this is such a great loss for everyone the knew her.
Kei kei
June 17, 2024
I never knew her personally but I knew full well of the impact she had on the veterans we served. I´ve worked at the VA for 10 plus years and not ONCE did I not see a smile on Dr. Madaras face. I knew her name because her character spoke volumes. I´m so saddened to hear of her passing. Her eyes could light up any room and I want her family to know that although we never spoke to one another, I always honored and respected the care and understanding she provided. Her character spoke volumes and I hope to exude this same care while I serve our veterans.
Basharat Shah
June 13, 2024
I have known Megan for almost a decade. She was always cheerful and energetic. She was dedicated to her work and cause. We have lost one of the most important members of our team. May God rest her soul in peace!
Marlise
June 13, 2024
I truly enjoyed your leadership and working together in the Clinical Command Center. I liked your energy and will always think of you with fondness and caring.
Pamela Wild
June 13, 2024
We were all heartbroken to hear this news. We have so many memories of those high school years. Megan was a woman who was unforgettable. We are so very sorry.
The Wilds
Rabia Qaiser
June 12, 2024
Megan is what I would call our "troubleshooter" at work. No matter, how difficult the task was, she would help accomplish it. She assisted with whatever was best for the patients. It´s hard to imagine getting through the week without calling out to her for help. She will be dearly missed.
Rabia Qaiser all the way from Lahore, Pakistan. Previously hospitalist at the VA.
Rabia Qaiser
June 12, 2024
Mia Bahagry
June 11, 2024
I texted Megan with some question about work then realized she was off so quickly told her to ignore me. She responded a few hours later saying she had been at a blacksmith class and my immediate reaction was to chuckle to myself and think, "Of course you were." She sent me pictures of what she had made: a skewer and steak flipper, both with bottle openers, and a hook to hang them on.
She wasn´t just a brilliant academic and unbelievably kind human... she was so damn cool. Her presence was as big as it was comforting. A light has gone out in the world with her passing, but I know she will have inspired all who knew her to be a little kinder and work a little harder. In this way, as in many others, she will have made the world a better place.
We´ll miss her always.
- Mia, hospitalist at the VA
Lexi Eastman
June 9, 2024
One of my favorite memories with Megan is our walk around Williamsburg streets one night when we were seniors. We talked about all of the incredible things we were going to do when we graduated. I knew she was going to go on to do amazing things. She was so so smart and kind and helpful.
We were the only two girls in Mr. Gourley's 11th grade English class and I was so grateful to have her, out of all the other girls it could have been, there with me. I remember she and I disagreed with Mr. G. and maybe the boys too (can't remember) on how the second part of "Brave New World" was in fact, less interesting than the first part. Megan and I had enough of Mr. Savage and would have preferred to follow Bernard's story.
I loved hanging out at her house, with her family. It became almost like a second home. They took me in when our power went out during an ice storm, and Megan had me and the girls over for countless sleepovers. Those days were the best!
I'm so glad to have known her and been a small part in her amazing life.
Deb Mazanek
June 8, 2024
The passing of Megan from this Earth is heartbreaking for all of us who were blessed to know her. I feel honored to have known her, as well as her loving mother and grandmother. When I think of Megan, I can hear her voice talking rapidly with joy and laughter about her adventures with her mom and Ollie and ice cream road trips with the three of them to Short Lane ... and she would share about her love of gardening and caring for the planet ... and the good stuff and challenging stuff of her career in healthcare ... the biggest thing for me as I feel her and remember her is that I know she LOVED her family so very deeply and this is such a blessing for me to have witnessed this in her.
Sandra A. Van Horn
June 7, 2024
I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear of Megan's passing. I remember her from medical school. Her smile was infectious. I am glad to hear she continued to shine during and after residency. May she rest in peace. Her family is in my prayers.
Brenda Breidenstein
June 6, 2024
I´m so sad to hear of this news. Megan was a great friend throughout our medical school years. We lost touch during residency but I´m not at all surprised to hear about her successful professional career after medical school. I can still picture her big smile and long curly hair like it was yesterday, and her sitting chatting with me at the library when we were meant to be studying - she had often already mastered concepts that I´d need to read through several more times to understand let alone remember. She enjoyed doing long and intense cycling workouts and would often share recipes with me. I´ll never forget our thorough analysis weighing out the pros and cons of her residency rank list prepping for match day. Even though we lost touch after the four short years in medical school I would still think of Megan often and I will always look back on our friendship fondly as one of the highlights of my time at UVA.
Joan Verhoef
June 5, 2024
We know Megan through her mother, father and youngest brother. Her parents and brother swam and volunteered at swim meets together with us. Her mom and I have stitched many a quilt together over the years.
Her Mom Judy and I were traveling to Kentucky, talking away and Megan called to chat with her mom, and we all visited awhile on speaker phone. Then Megan asked where we were and how far we might be going our first day. We had just passed a sign for mileage to a city not on our route. Megan was quiet for a minute and then informed us we were going the wrong way! We laughed and laughed.
The games they played as a family have made it into our repertoire.
Some of the many jars of Pesto made by Megan in Judy´s kitchen has made it to our table.
Megan´s love and support of her family was enormous. She was a beautiful gifted soul and our prayers for peace and strength go out to her family, coworkers and friends.
Gabriel Spring
June 4, 2024
Oh Megan. Truly a positive force in my life at UVA for 7 years. So grateful for her in my life, and shocked to hear of her passing.
Ijeoma N Nnamani
June 4, 2024
So sad. I remember Megan from med school. Her beautiful smile and I am glad that she continued to brighten the world after med school. May her beautiful soul continue to rest in peace and rise in glory. May the Holy Spirit comfort her loved ones. She was such a lovely humanbeing.
Robin Fremer
June 2, 2024
I remember how Liz and Megan bonded from day one at Wash U. Roommates for 4 years! I´m so sorry for your loss. Robin Fremer
Jamie Wilson
June 2, 2024
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope, not hearing her voice when she would call to ask about a patient will be strange because she ALWAYS had something funny to say !! Working and actually knowing Dr.Madaras was a pleasure, I always saw a smile on her face when in her presence ( Now she could get feisty) but, it was all for her patients well being.
I will continue to keep the family in Prayer for your strength during this time.
Bridget Bryer
June 1, 2024
I was devastated to learn of Megan´s passing. I have worked with Megan at the Free Clinic for over a decade and also knew her from medical school. She had a wonderful sense of humor and I will always remember her beautiful smile. Even when she moved to Richmond, she remained dedicated to the Free Clinic in Charlottesville and continued to serve as medical director. Such an incredible loss.
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