Bonnie Westrope Rawot passed away peacefully at home on April 18, 2024. She was born on November 8, 1959 in Detroit, Michigan to Ardeth Westrope (Shurlow) and James Westrope.
Dr. Rawot grew up in Grand Island, New York. She had a love of music and became a talented flute player. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music from Baldwin-Wallace College, and received a Master of Music, With Distinction, from Indiana University. After graduation, she became a flutist for the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, traveled in the 1983 Tour of the American Wind Symphony, and then played two seasons with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
She realized her true calling of helping others while taking care of a sick relative. Reflecting in her personal diary, she determined, “Yes, I will devote my life to medicine”. With that statement, she returned to school at the State University College at Buffalo for pre-med courses and then attended the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine, graduating magna cum laude with her M. D. degree.
Dr. Rawot completed her Internal Medicine Residency, followed by an Infectious Diseases fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri. While at Washington University she was awarded the Knowlton Incentive Award, becoming one of the first women to ever receive that honor. While in St Louis, she met and married her husband Jay who was her soulmate, shelter from the storm, and true ‘life support.’
In 1995, Dr. Rawot and her husband moved to North Texas. Shortly after arriving in Texas, she joined ID Specialist, P.A. performing inpatient hospital consultations and outpatient follow-ups based at Medical City Dallas Hospital. She also became the Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control for Medical City Dallas Hospital, served on several hospital committees focused on improving patient outcomes, and worked on the committee for Emergency Preparedness with the Dallas County Medical Society. She received the Dr Schwade Physician Excellence Award from Medical City for her guidance during the Ebola Crisis and a second Dr Schwade Award for leadership during the COVID Pandemic.
Dr. Rawot was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church. In 2023, she was inducted into the Order of Garrett by the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas for her support of the diocese on issues related to COVID.
Dr. Rawot enjoyed travel, hiking, books, classical music, long walks with her husband Jay, and time with Gus, her rescue Sheltie.
She is survived by her husband, Jay Rawot of Allen, Texas, sons, Adam Rawot of New York City and Eric Rawot of Philadelphia, mother, Ardeth Westrope of Ft Myers, Florida, sister, Amy Lease (Westrope) and brother-in-law Tom Lease of Wilmington, North Carolina.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 3, 2024 at St Peter’s Episcopal Church, 400 N College St, McKinney, TX 75069. Dr. Rawot will be interred at the St Peter’s columbarium. A donation to the cancer organization of the donor’s choice may be made in lieu of flowers.