In Memoriam Dr. Frederick Schild

With profound sadness, we inform you of the death of a beloved vascular surgeon,  distinguished MUSC surgical alumni and graduate of the MUSC College of Medicine, Dr. Frederick Schild, who left an indelible mark on the field of vascular surgery. Dr. Schild dedicated his career to advancing the field of vascular surgery with a distinguished record of service and leadership.

He served as President of the Florida Medical Association, the Dade County Medical Association, the Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, and the American Society of General Surgeons. He was the Founding President of the Vascular Access Society of the Americas, which today is still the only multidisciplinary organization representing the field of vascular access.

Dr. Schild was a delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA) from Florida for twelve years, serving as Vice Chairman of the delegation for three years. He also served as ViceChair of the AMA Council on Long-Range Planning and Development. In the American College of Surgeons, he served six years on the Board of Governors and six years on the Advisory Council for General Surgery. He served on their Health Policy Steering Committee (legislation). He was an active member of many societies over the years, including the Society of Vascular Surgery, the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, the Florida Vascular Society, the South Florida Society for Vascular Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, the Southern Surgical Association, the Southeastern Surgical Congress and the Vascular Access Society of the Americas.

Recognized for outstanding dedication and service to the medical profession in the field of surgery, the Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons honored Dr. Schild in 2004 with the Raymond Alexander Award, their highest honor. In 2006, he was honored with The South Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons’ Distinguished Service Award, their highest honor. Also, in 2006, he was awarded both the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Medical Association. 

In 2008, the Medical University of South Carolina honored Dr. Schild with the College of Medicine’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and in 2015 the MUSC Department of Surgery recognized Dr. Schild with the H. Biemann Othersen, Jr., M.D., Distinguished Alumnus Award. This award is the highest alumni honor bestowed by the MUSC Department of Surgery. It is presented by the Curtis P. Artz MUSC Surgical Society, a member organization, and recognizes the achievements of MUSC alumni who have enhanced the surgical profession through education, research, and clinical practice.

A native of Conway, SC, Dr. Schild received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1957. He completed a rotating internship at L.A. County Hospital in Los Angeles, followed by a year of surgical residency at MUSC. He completed his surgical training at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, serving as chief resident. Upon completing his surgical training, Dr. Schild served two years in the U.S. Army on active duty.

After discharge, Dr. Schild opened a private general and vascular surgery practice. He founded the Surgical Group of Miami with four other surgeons and began serving on the voluntary faculty of the University of Miami. In 1992, he joined the full-time faculty of the University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, as Professor of Surgery. He ran the Vascular Access Surgery for Dialysis Program. Winner of numerous teaching awards during his tenure, he gave the Commencement address to the 1995 University of Miami School of Medicine graduating class. He joined the Florida International University (FIU) Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in 2009 as Professor of Surgery and Clerkship Director. From 2016 to 2019, Dr. Schild continued to serve as Professor of Surgery at FIU, devoting his time to research, teaching, and speaking. His legacy will carry on through the many generations of students he helped train.

We offer our condolences to his wife, Judy, and their family and ask that you keep them in your thoughts.