Nurse and historian loses long-standing battle with cancer. Karen Buhler-Wilkerson, PhD, RN, FAAN, nursing professor, historian, and author, died February 13 from complications of ovarian cancer. She was 65 years old. Dr. Buhler-Wilkerson received her BSN and MN degrees from Emory University and her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, and taught at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing from 1972 until her death. After retiring in 2006 as a professor of community health, she continued as professor emerita, writing for scholarly journals and participating in professional organizations and on advisory boards. She also helped found Penn Nursing's Living Independently For Elders (LIFE) program, which provides ongoing daily care for 500 poor and frail residents of West Philadelphia. Dr. Buhler-Wilkerson is survived by Dr. Neville Strumpf, her partner of 17 years, and two sons, Jonathan and David Wilkerson.