Dr. Paul E. Donat

Dr. Paul E. Donat, M.D.Folder and obit pic

1939-2016

Paul E. Donat, M.D. was born on December 6, 1936 in Wichita, Kansas.  He passed away on March 30, 2016 in Edmond, OK. after a courageous 14 month battle with stomach cancer.  He graduated from John Marshall High School in 1954 and went on to graduate from UCO in 1958 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry with a minor in Math, English and History.  After leaving UCO he went to OU Medical School where he received his doctorate in 1962.  He completed his fellowship in Renal Metabolic and Urology.

He was Chief of Urology at the 8th field Hospital and Chief of Professional services in Vietnam from 1969-1970. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal.  Following his return from Vietnam he organized the first Dialysis Center at Baptist Hospital.

Dr. Donat, started chronic dialysis in Oklahoma in 1963; introduced the Seldinger Technique of Arteriograms to Urology in 1964.  After two years of research he presented Ultrasound of Prostate to Medicare and obtained approval for the District.  He taught the 1st course in Oklahoma of Laprascopic Surgery to Urology Residents and Fellows and presented data on Perineal Prostatectomy and Laprascopic Node Biopsy at Memorial Sloan Kettering.

He taught Perineal Surgery at M.D. Anderson for two years as well as Laprascopic Node Biopsy and Perineal Prostrectomy in Sydney, Australia.

Recently the Urology Department at O.U. Medical Center awarded him the first recipient of the Pioneer in Urology.  Dr. Donat was a licensed Physician in the State of Oklahoma for 53 years and spent 42 of those years teaching residents at the OU College of Medicine.  He loved teaching and his patients. He has participated in over 6,000 Radical Perineal Prostatectomy (for cancer of the Prostate) during his career. He along with Bobby Gene Smith, Shelby Barnes were the founders of Urology Assoc. in OKC.

Paul was loved by all he met and no one liked a good joke and could tell a joke better than him. He had an infectious laugh and tender way with his, family, patients and friends. Love of family came first with Paul, with his patients a very close second. He always said his patients were his family.

Dr. Donat is survived by his wife Anna of the home; son, Mark Donat of Oklahoma City; daughter, Lauren & Curtis West of Edmond; grandchildren, Finley, Vaughn, Walker and Anna; son, Casey Garrett, Dallas, TX; brother, Rudy & Bobbie Donat, of Shawnee, OK.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph & Charlotte (Holotik) Donat; sister, Carolyn Hillerman and nephew, Chris Donat.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City, with interment to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to O.U. College of Medicine, Urology Department.

Services are under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home and cremation service, Edmond.

4 thoughts on “Dr. Paul E. Donat”

  1. Diane Hendrickson

    Dear Anna and Family, Paul was a great doctor & a good guy. He will truly be missed. Let me know if you need help. Sincerely, Diane(Kyle,Parker) Hendrickson.(You & I worked at Baptist at the same time & when you were working for Dr.Dahr I was down the hall with Dr. Odor. I still work for him.)

  2. James M and Katie Patterson

    We learned today of Dr. Donat’s passing. We want to express our sympathy to Anna and the family. Katie and I were his patients for about 17 years and he was a Godsend to both of us. I (Jim) believe I am alive today because of his skilled treatment of my cancer issues. We will always be grateful to him. He truly cared for those he treated and he was always happy and joyful. Our prayers are with his family.

    A story. Once during a visit he remarked to the two of us about a wine he had found and truly enjoyed. He recommended that we should visit the wine shop and take some home. We visited the store after we left his office and asked the clerk if they had this certain wine. The clerk replied that while he usually had it on hand, just a day or two before some Doctor came in and bought the last they had. We had a good laugh with him at our next visit. He was more than our Doctor, he was our friend.

  3. Connie Brunsky

    To Dr. Donat’s family. In 1973 my daughter had bladder surgery and she has been very healthy ever since! I did not know that dear Dr. Donat had lef
    t this world. He did leave it a better place and I for one am extremely thankful! He also removed a kidney stone from me in 1979. I don’t know id you look at these comments after 2 years, but in case you do I wanted to let you know how appreciative we are of his effect on both of our lives. I know a million people have been effected by his surgical procedures and his kind heart! He once wrote my daughter (who was his patient at 2 years old) a note that said Susan you are my favorite! That brought a smile to her face which had not been there for 3 weeks! So thank you for the health of both of us!

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