Katharine Branson was a consultant surgeon at the Bruntsfield and Longmore Hospitals, Edinburgh. She was born in London on 5 August 1912. Her father, Frederick Henry Ewart Branson, was a solicitor. Her mother was Helen Mary, née Brown, the daughter of a solicitor. Katharine was educated at Hall School, Weybridge, and St Felix School, Southwold. She went on to study medicine at the Royal Free Hospital, where she won several undergraduate prizes, and was much influenced by Cecil Joll. She was a house surgeon and casualty officer at the Royal Free, and was a registrar at the Royal Cancer Hospital. She was later appointed consultant surgeon to Bruntsfield and Longmore Hospitals, Edinburgh. She examined in surgery for the Edinburgh College. Her hobbies included campanology and ornithology, and she was a member of the Soroptomists, a network of professional women serving their communities. She died on 6 November 2001.