Schwartz Memorial Lecture returns to the Department of Surgery on November 5
By Josh Shepherd
After being postponed in 2020, the annual Richard W. Schwartz Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium returns to the UK Department of Surgery on Friday, November 5 to celebrate surgical education. The seventh edition of the Schwartz Lecture on Surgical Education will feature a presentation from Richard Bell, MD, FACS, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the University of South Carolina and UK Surgery faculty alumnus.
The Schwartz Lecture and Symposium will be held in the UK College of Nursing Building, NURS 201 throughout Friday afternoon. Masks and social distancing will be required for all attendees.
The Symposium will begin with case presentations from a select number of 3rd year General Surgery residents for faculty and peer discussion. The Schwartz Lecture will conclude the event.
The title of Dr. Bell’s presentation, “Finding the Best Fit,” is schedule to begin at about 3:00 pm.
Dr. Richard Bell is a Cynthiana, Kentucky native and an alumnus of the UK College of Medicine. He was accepted into the UK General Surgery residency program under the tutelage of Dr. Ward O. Griffen. He completed two years of training before the US Air Force “made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
Dr. Bell returned to complete his surgical training and subsequently joined the UK Surgery faculty from 1979 to 1985. While at Kentucky, he served as Chief of Aeromedical Services for the Kentucky Air National Guard. In 1985, he joined the University of South Carolina School of Medicine faculty. In addition to his clinical service, he was Director of the General Surgery Residency Program, Director of the Trauma Service and Surgical ICU. In 1998, he was named Chair of the USC Department of Surgery.
During his career, Dr. Bell served as Chair of the Advanced Trauma Life Support subcommittee of the American College of Surgeons – Committee on Trauma (ACS COT). He also served a term as President of the Association for Surgical Education, a position that Dr. Richard Schwartz held in 1998.
Dr. Bell retired as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of USC in 2012.
Richard W. Schwartz, MD
The late Dr. Richard Schwartz' passion and excellence in gastrointestinal surgery, surgical education and the development of physician leaders were well-known before his untimely death in 2010. His influence touched all who had the honor of working alongside him.
To honor his legacy, the University of Kentucky Department of Surgery established the annual Richard W. Schwartz Memorial Lectureship. Janet Schwartz Evans, Andrew Bernard, MD, and David Sloan, MD established the foundation of the endowed lectureship in 2014. To make a gift of support, please contact Dr. Bernard, Dr. Sloan or UK College of Medicine development officer Lindsey Clem by email or at 859.323.1313.
