From a young age, Dr. Kari Grimsmo Frano revered and respected her aunt, who was only nine years older. She is a Family Practice physician who inspired Dr. Frano to follow in her footsteps. Dr. Frano’s interest in medicine led her to the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth where she earned her medical degree. She completed her internship at the Osteopathic Medical Center of Texas and did her residency at the Plaza Medical Center Fort Worth, now known as Medical City Fort Worth.  She is board certified in General Surgery.

Dr. Frano always knew she wanted to do surgery. She likes the “instant cure and resolution of symptoms” that surgery can provide. She tried to talk herself out of it many times, especially as she was raising her two young children.  However, her hard work and perseverance guided her while she managed her medical school education and family.  Throughout all her schooling and teaching, her husband, Steven, supported her all the way.  He was at times deployed with the Marine Corps, but he’s now retired from the military and works for BNSF.

Dr. Frano was drawn to general surgery at first because of the variety of her patients’ problems.  Now, she has developed a special interest in breast cancer surgery.  The relationship she forms with her patients is very important to her.  It is her desire and goal to take the journey with her patients, from the very beginning when they have an abnormal mammogram and she performs their biopsies, to walking them through all their surgical options and then completing their surgical treatment for breast cancer.

In her spare time, Dr. Frano is an “avid fitness buff.”  She averages over 15,000 steps every day which includes walking her four dogs in the morning.  And if she doesn’t, she warns friends and family because she can get “crabby.”  She also enjoys going to Orange Theory circuit training classes where she likes the variety of workouts.

Travel is Dr. Frano’s passion, and if physical activity is included, it is the perfect vacation. She has hiked Kilimanjaro and around Mont Blanc in the Alps.  Machu Picchu is next on her bucket list.  Coincidentally, Dr. Frano was born in Norway, the land of the northern lights, fjords, and the midnight sun, and she continues to be fluent in Norwegian, her home language.  Her two goals in life have been to become a doctor – check! – and to travel for free which is now possible because her youngest child works for American Airlines – check!

Dr. Frano is well equipped to care for her patients. She literally and figuratively walks their healthcare journeys with them, sharing each step to a healthier life for years to come.