E. William Schmitt, Jr, MD
1937 - 2023
The information below is combined from A History of POSNA, 1971-1996, and a notice that appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Dr. Schmitt is recognized as an important part of POSNA’s history as he was one of a small group that received a letter in 1974 inquiring about participating in a meeting dedicated solely to pediatric orthopaedists. The “Pediatric Orthopedic Travel Group” was established and began with a meeting in Rochester, MN, in September 1974. By the second meeting, the name changed to “The Pediatric Orthopedic Study Group” (POSG). The organization grew rapidly, with a discussion on restricting the number of members. Dr. Schmitt commented at the time, “At the rate we’re going, we might have to rent out the Rose Bowl for the next meeting.”
Dr. Schmitt became secretary-treasurer of POSG in 1975 and meeting co-chair and president in 1983. As secretary-treasurer, Dr. Schmitt was responsible for making POSG a formal legal entity in the State of Georgia. In 1980, Dr. Schmitt was honored by POSG members for the enormous amount of work he had done for the organization. The Pediatric Orthopedic Society (POS) and POSG would later become POSNA.
Dr. Schmitt treated children for over 40 years. He graduated high school at the age of 16 and went on to obtain a medical degree from Emory University. After his orthopaedic residency at Harvard, he served in the Navy in Vietnam. Upon his return, he became a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Egleston, now known as Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Schmitt was known as the definition of selfless and one of the most loved to work with.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Yvonne, their children and spouses, Evie and Paul, Will, Becky and Gregg, and their grandchildren. Services will be held on Wednesday, March 29, at Patterson Funeral Home, 173 Allen Rd. NE, Sandy Springs, GA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Disabled Americans Veterans (dav.org) or K9s for Warriors (k9sforwarriors.org).
