Dr. Sheldon Schwartz, a distinguished alumnus of the University of Wisconsin’s Pathology Residency Program (1977–1981), has pledged a generous $10,000 matching gift in support of the Trainee Travel Award in Honor of Dr. Ricardo Lloyd. This heartfelt contribution reflects Dr. Schwartz’s enduring appreciation for the formative years he spent at UW and the profound influence of mentors like Dr. Lloyd and Dr. Reza Hafez. His commitment ensures that future generations of pathology trainees will have the resources to pursue academic excellence and professional development through travel and research opportunities. Donors are invited to join Dr. Schwartz in honoring this legacy—every gift made to the fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling its impact.
This spirit of gratitude and generosity is woven throughout Dr. Schwartz’s life story. In his autobiography, he reflects on the pivotal experiences, personal values, and professional milestones that shaped his journey—from his early days in medical training to his decades-long career in pathology. What follows is a deeply personal account of a life dedicated to medicine, mentorship, and giving back.
I was born, raised, and received my public school education in NYC. My academic interests always gravitated toward biological and meteorological subject matter. At the urging of two older cousins, both UW-Madison grads from the mid 60’s, I was convinced that UW-Madison would fit the bill for my college education. I was pre-med with a major in Molecular Biology. Those were the turbulent Vietnam War protest years(1969-73) with student protests, TA strike, Sterling Hall bombing, and lots of tear gas mixed with marijuana smoke. My first experience with a UW Med School facility was taking cover in the main entrance of the old Wisconsin General Hospital on University Ave with a tear gas canister flying thru the front door.
Despite the obstacles I did cherish those undergrad years at UW. I would be remiss if I failed to mention that I met my wife to be ( now almost 53years later), as a freshman at the Lakeshore Dorms. Coincidence, Denise was also a Schwartz( no relation).
My goal was to attend the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, in Philadelphia, which happily I did, and received an outstanding medical education surrounded by outstanding scholars. It was during a surgical pathology externship at the Pennsylvania Hospital that I found my calling in medicine. While I enjoyed most aspects of medicine, my strongest interests were in pathology and physiology, and in particular surgical pathology which seemed to come quite naturally for me. I considered other specialities, but always gravitated back to pathology. While a student at Penn I developed a relationship with the Pathology Department Chairman, who had a friend on the pathology staff at UW by the name of Peter Burkholder with whom I communicated, so that when it came time for me to make residency choices, UW was at the top of my list.
So after 4 years in Philly it was back to Madison in June 1977 for my all important residency training. Looking back it was the right decision!! I was surrounded by top notch staff and very sharp skilled trainees from whom I gleaned a tremendous store of knowledge which stood me in good stead over my 37 years in practice. A few staff names from that time may be of historical interest and included, Walt Jaeschke just ending his tenure as surgical pathology director, and Enid Gilbert, his successor. Others around the multiheaded scope would often include, Robert W Huntington III, Tom Warner, Kennedy W Gilchrist, Terry Oberly, John Weiss, Diane Norback, and of course Reza Hafez. The last few mentioned were all recent grads of the program, and lent it a very young feel. Many others took their turns around the scope or supervising the autopsy service, too numerous to mention here. But of all the staff, by far and away young Reza Hafez was the most influential in my training. He had a particular way of evaluating a case that combined his astute observational skills with a tremendous mental image storage. We were always encouraged first to look at the case “cold”, with no clinical information, which as we pathologists know can sometimes be very misleading. Then after forming a differential diagnosis based on image evaluation, the clinical information was reviewed to further hone the diagnosis. Throughout my entire career as a surgical pathologist I often found myself thinking, “how would Reza see this?”
So if asked to name the most important person in my entire 27 years of education it clearly was Reza Hafez and as such my support of the Endowment will be in his memory.
Staff, while a crucial element of a young residents training, shares equal importance with the fellow residents with whom most of your time and learning experience is spent. My group was particularly sharp and joining me in June 1977 were, James Lau, Renee Warrren, Susan Wester, Mary Ulrickson-Brown, John Whalen, Randy Judd, an older GP later joining the group, Harry Gonlag. The chief residents who proceeded me were very helpful teachers and advisors including, Bud Poeschel, Padmalatha Chandrashekar, and just before me, the ultimate teacher, researcher, and academic pathologist, Ricardo Lloyd. I also found Ric a very helpful outside consultant especially in difficult thyroid cases when I wanted the best consultant in the land.
I practiced my entire 37 years in a private practice as a member of the Williamsport Pathology Association, at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center, in Williamsport PA, now referred to as UPMC Susquehanna. My forte was surgical pathology, in large part as a result of the what I learned and the skills developed, from the residents and staff during those most important four years of training in the Pathology Residency Program at the UW Hospital and Clinics from 1977-81. It is for that reason that I have decided to make a significant financial commitment to the pathology resident travel, and research endowment started by my former colleague Ric Lloyd. That is my way of giving back some of the returns on the investment made in my education by the many staff and residents with whom I had contact, and learned from, those many decades ago. I hope you too will be inclined to make a commitment to ensure that the young pathologists finishing our residency program remain the very best in the land.
-Dr. Sheldon Schwartz, Pathology Resident 1977-81