Arnold Frederick Schild

1932 - 2022

Arnold Frederick Schild, M.D, F.A.C.S
May 19, 1932 - February 15, 2022
Miami, Florida - Arnold Frederick Schild, M.D, F.A.C.S., a renowned surgeon, researcher, speaker, professor, and mentor dedicated to advancing the field of surgery and vascular access, and to educating the next generation of physicians, has died at 89.
Dr. Schild was born May 19, 1932, in Conway, South Carolina. After an exemplary life, "Fred" Schild passed away following a brave battle with COVID pneumonia on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at South Miami Hospital.
Dr. Schild was strong and relentless, prevailing over cancer four times. He refused to let the illness stop him from pursuing his passions for surgery and helping others. In 1976, the experimental pelvic-cancer surgery that saved his life left him unable to walk – or operate – without crutches, but he returned to the operating room nine months later and never looked back.
"He was my role model for how to live life. Even when the worst things happened to him, he was able to face the world unafraid and calm. He looked at life as an adventure, he took on every obstacle and persevered." said sister-in-law Janice Nochumson.
After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Dr. Schild earned his M.D. degree from the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. He completed a rotating internship at L.A. County Hospital before doing his surgical residency at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Schild's storied career began in 1965 when he moved from Atlanta to Miami and launched a solo private practice. In 1971, Dr. Schild and four other surgeons founded the Surgical Group of Miami. In 1992, he joined the full-time faculty of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as Professor of Surgery and ran the Vascular Access Surgery for Hemodialysis Program.
Leaving private practice at age 60, Fred devoted himself to advancing the medical field through teaching. Students revered him as an educator and caring mentor who was actively interested in their lives - a teacher who went above and beyond to instill the joy of medicine in every subject he taught.
Dr. Schild began his second act as a professor of Surgery at the University of Miami (UM), later helping UM develop the surgical curriculum for Florida Atlantic University. In 2009, he joined the faculty of Florida International University's (FIU) Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, where he taught until his passing. Both students and peers honored him with awards, including FIU's Clinical Skills Teaching Award in 2020 and Alpha Omega Alpha honors in 2017 and 2018.
"The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine family mourns the loss of Dr. A. Frederick Schild. Dr. Schild has been a professor at the College since its inception in 2009. Dr. Schild was a wonderful role model for our students, presenting them with a vision of the power of communication between patient and physician, aligned with superior clinical skills and acumen. Dr. Schild was a true gentleman who listened with his heart and mind. His contributions as a surgeon were equally impactful. His legacy will carry on through the generations of students he helped train at FIU and previously at the University of Miami. We will all miss him dearly." Juan C. Cendán, MD - Interim Dean, FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
Dr. Schild's distinguished record of service and leadership began at the U.S. Army's 11th Evac Hospital in Busan, South Korea (called Pusan at the time) during his two-year enlistment. He continued that same commitment in the public and private sector as president of the Dade County Medical Association, the Florida Medical Association, the Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, and the American Society of General Surgeons.
The Vascular Access Society of the Americas' founding president, Dr. Schild was active in the Society of Clinical Vascular Surgery, the Society for Vascular Surgery, the Florida Vascular Society, the American College of Surgeons, the South Florida Society for Vascular Surgery, the Southern Surgical Association, and the Southeastern Surgical Congress.
Dr. Schild was widely 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 him in 2004 with the Raymond Alexander Award, their highest honor. In 2006, The South Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons honored him with its Distinguished Service Award, and he won Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and the Florida Medical Association. In 2008, the Medical University of South Carolina honored Dr. Schild with the College of Medicine's Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Dr. Schild published scores of articles in peer-reviewed medical and surgical journals, and contributed book chapters to three medical textbooks still in use today. A sought-after conference speaker, he delivered keynote presentations throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
In addition to his passion for medicine, Dr. Schild enjoyed golf, history, and travel. He was a Miami sports fanatic, a past member of the Doral Country Club's Advisory Board of Governors, and a founding member of Bet Shira Synagogue.
Judy Benson Schild, a longtime travel agent and Fred's loving wife of 56 years, survives, as do daughter Lisa Henschel and husband Jeff Henschel of Boca Raton, Florida; son Bill Schild and wife Caroline Schild of New York City, New York; grandchildren Samuel Henschel, Daniel Henschel and Isabella Schild; sister Tobae Lehr of Atlanta, Georgia, and a large extended family. His parents, Lillian and Samuel, and brothers, Raymond and Mark, predeceased.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Schild's funeral will be a family-only graveside service at Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapels at Mt. Nebo on Thursday, February 17 at 1pm, which they will stream via Zoom. Join at: https://bit.ly/3sBsseM. If you have any issues, visit zoom.us/join using Meeting ID: 840 4922 0850, Password 937197.
In lieu of flowers, we gratefully suggest donations be made to the Judy and Fred Schild, MD Scholarship Endowment at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine by visiting https://go.fiu.edu/Schild. For more information, please contact Jannel Garcia, development manager, at 305-348-0695 or GiveMed@fiu.edu.