Ann Mertens

Dr. Ann C. Mertens, age 71, passed away peacefully on Sunday October 20, 2024 in Atlanta, GA.

Dr. Mertens was born in St. Louis, MO to Ferdinand and Laverne Mertens, the third oldest of their eight children. She graduated from Rosati-Kain Academy, an all-girls high school that Ann credited as the foundation for her successful life and career. She received her B.S. in Medical Technology from St. Louis University and her M.S. in Biostatistics and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Minnesota. In Minnesota, she devoted her early career as an international luminary in pediatric cancer epidemiology and cancer survivorship through her work with the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

In 2007, Ann joined the faculty of Emory University as a Professor of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Pediatrics and as a Professor of Epidemiology in the Rollins School of Public Health. As the Mark R. Hudgens Chair for Clinical Research in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, she served as the Director of Clinical Research and the Research Program Director for Survivorship. Ann was also the Director of the Center for Clinical Outcomes Research and Public Health for the Department of Pediatrics.

She was the recipient of numerous local, regional and national career, research and mentorship awards including the Emory Milliped Club for having published research papers with more than 1000 citations, the Champion for Children Award from the American Society for the Positive Care of Children, serving on their national board, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Health-Care Hero Awards winner as the creator of Cancer SurvivorLink™, a transformational web-based portal for pediatric cancers. However, she was best known and proud of her role as a mentor for over 50 students, physicians and junior researchers through whom her legacy in clinical research will endure.

Ann will be remembered for her calm, kind, and unassuming nature. She was a patron of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and loved spending time in and tending to her own garden. She was an avid runner and enjoyed yoga, cooking, traveling, cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals, and spending time with family, friends, her dog, Morgan, and cat, Betty. She was known for her healthy lifestyle; but also enjoyed the occasional pizza with a good IPA.

Ann is survived by the love her life, Sharon Remaly, her spouse and partner of 34 years; her mother, Laverne Mertens of St. Louis, MO; sisters: Jean Lindsey (Ken) of St. Charles, MO and Jackie Collins (Kevin) of Longwood, FL, and brothers: Steve Mertens of Redman, WA, Glen Mertens (Rosanne) of St. Louis, MO, and Joe Mertens of St. Louis, MO. She is preceded in death by her father, Ferdinand, and her siblings Mary and Gayle.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the causes important to Ann: The Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Ann C. Mertens, PHD Brain Tumor Caregiver Support Fund, to support Caregivers and Families of brain tumor patients with counseling, support groups, and additional support services - http://give.piedmont.org/annmertens  The Cancer Survivorship Program at the Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta   https://give.choa.org/AnnMertens or the American Society for the Positive Care of Children - https://americanspcc.org  An informal Celebration of Life is being planned for friends and family.

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