Surgical Excellence. Trusted Care.
It was all timing.
In 1969, I was 13 years old. Dr. Michael DeBakey at the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas had developed the first artificial heart, which was successfully implanted into a human patient. Around this time, my grandfather traveled to Texas to undergo a vascular bypass operation by this ground breaking physician, Dr. DeBakey. For me, these events were amazing and captivating, and the surgeon was larger than life. I was fascinated that a world famous surgeon had operated on my grandfather. At that time, in 7th grade science class, we were studying the cardiovascular system. Our teacher brought to class a cow’s heart and lungs. She opened the heart, revealing the chambers, valves and the great vessels. She blew air into the trachea (windpipe) inflating the lungs. It was beautiful, science, and powerful. It was a matter of timing. At that moment I knew my future. Nothing mattered more to me than becoming a surgeon trained to repair cardiovascular disease for those in need. And now, nothing matters more to me than helping you.
For over 26 years, I have been fortunate to call the Mahoning Valley, “Home,” and bring my skills to help those in need. Throughout my studies at Duke University and Oxford, as well at medical school at the University of Illinois in Chicago through completion of my training at University of Southern California, I was determined to be the most compassionate and knowledgable cardiovascular disease physician. I bring this same determination to every encounter with my patients, both at my office and the hospitals of Salem Regional Medical Center, Trumbull Regional Medical Center and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, where I am grateful to practice.
My calling to be a thoracic and vascular surgeon was a discovery I made at an early age. I made another amazing discover in 1994 where I found my wife, Dr. Susan Woods, and raised our two amazing sons here in Youngstown. Timing is everything, and I hope you will take the time to discover the compassionate care and medical expertise our team can offer you here in the Mahoning Valley. Visit us at www.schmetterermd.com to learn more or to schedule a consult.
