Frank Bryce Flint

Frank B. Flint, MD, FACS, a highly respected and adored surgeon who performed approximately 20,000 surgeries in more than four decades of practice in San Diego County, was best known for his constancy in kindness, respect and professionalism to patients, their families, and his colleagues.

Dr. Flint died on Jan. 4, 2024, at Scripps Green Hospital. He was 87.

From 1969 to his retirement in 2013, he provided care, particularly to the people of East County, in general surgery at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Scripps Hospital - East County and Alvarado Hospital, through Foothills Surgical Medical Group and his private practice. Also providing care as an emergency room surgeon, Dr. Flint served with distinction at local hospitals, including as Chief of Medical Staff at Scripps East and Member of the Executive Committee at Sharp Grossmont.

He was well known for his compassion, humanity and expertise, which he showed equally to patients, families and all who worked with him. According to colleagues, Dr. Flint provided everyone with high quality of care, strictly adhering to standard operating procedures, clinical guidelines and medical protocols; his dedication to his craft and exceptional surgery skills were widely respected.

A partner at Foothills Surgical Medical Group, Jim Behrend, MD FACS, remembers that Dr. Flint was “always a gentleman. He never got upset about anything, and I never heard him complain. He was always very kind and respectful to the people we worked with – to other physicians but most importantly to nurses and techs and everyone in the office and hospital. There was no ego involved with Frank; he had confidence in himself, but it wasn’t ego.”

Dr. Flint always helped his fellow surgeons no matter when they needed support, Dr. Behrend said. This was particularly important before laparoscopic surgery when there were more two-surgeon procedures. “If I needed a hand at 2 a.m., I could call Frank and he would come help me – and he never grumbled and was always nice about it, even if that meant he only got two hours of sleep before seeing patients that day.”

Dr. Flint always made rounds personally to see his own patients, almost never allowing other physicians to do it, even on Sunday mornings and when he was not on call, Dr. Behrend said. Dr. Flint’s patients really liked him, he said, because he was so personable, listened to them and gave them and their families the individual attention they needed.

Sharon Edwards, Dr. Flint’s scheduler, agreed that “all his patients loved him. Everybody loved him. I never heard one complaint in the 31 years I worked with him. There was no bad mood in him, always the same kind and nice person every day. Not only to his patients but also to their families. He always came out of surgery and talked to families right away, told them everything that was happening and patiently answered all their questions.”

She said Dr. Flint performed approximately 8-10 surgeries a week, ranging from gall bladders and mastectomies to wounds and hernias, while also often working as an emergency surgeon. He rarely took vacations, she said.

A Sharp community surgeon recalled a time early in his career when Dr. Flint assisted in a particularly difficult surgery -- and the ease the older physician showed in helping to successfully complete the operation. “That procedure still plays like a video in my mind, as I realized at the time how far I would have to go to become a mature physician,” the surgeon said.

Dr. Flint’s care for people extended far beyond his medical practice. At various times throughout his long career, he also provided medical care for employees at NASSCO, scouts and staff at Mataguay Scout Ranch, and special needs adults and children at Home of Guiding Hands. Dr. Flint served as the emergency physician at Cajon Speedway. His children recall sitting in the stands with their father on race nights, and when crashes occurred, he would grab his medical kit and go patch up the drivers.

Hundreds of nursing home patients also received care from Dr. Flint. His nursing home practice grew rapidly in a few years, according to Sharon Edwards, because “other patients would see how kind and caring he was, and how well he listened to people, and they would say, ‘I want him as my doctor.’”

Dr. Flint provided care for inmates at Calipatria State Prison, Centinela State Prison and Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, traveling to these facilities monthly to diagnose patients, who would then be transported to Alvarado Hospital for surgery by him. He would also provide check-ups to his patients after they were back in the prisons.

Sharon Edwards said he never had any problems in many years of working at prisons because he always treated inmates in the same kind, professional and nonjudgmental manner he engaged with everyone.

Dr. Flint was born in New York City on October 6, 1936, while his father, also a physician, was in a residency program. He grew up in Hart, MI, a town in western Michigan of about 2,000 people, nearly the same population today as when he was a boy. Dr. Flint’s father was the town’s physician, and he sometimes accompanied his father on rounds; the doctor’s office was part of the family’s home. Dr. Flint attended the University of Michigan, where he received his Bachelor of Science in 1958 and Medical Degree in 1962. He was an avid lifelong Michigan football fan.

Following an internship at Southern Pacific General Hospital in San Francisco, Dr. Flint entered the U.S. Air Force where he served as flight surgeon at March Air Force Base in Riverside, CA. At the time of his discharge, he had attained the rank of major. He then completed surgical residencies and worked in the Los Angeles area, including at the VA Hospital in West Los Angeles and UCLA Medical Center, until he was invited to join Foothills Surgical Medical Group in El Cajon in 1969.

After retirement, Dr. Flint continued to assist in many surgeries, and spent increasing time with his wife, Mary Ellen, children and grandchildren. He traveled with his wife, and loved to play mind-challenging games and puzzles with his children and grandchildren. He was an expert at games such as cribbage, backgammon, and Scrabble. He also was an avid gardener, with a dozen fruit trees at his home.

Dr. Flint is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Ellen, and her children Bambi Kelly, Marnie Willey, and Heidi Bruning, all of San Diego; and his first wife, Heather Malloy, and their children, Holly Flint-McMahon of San Diego, Andrea Flint-Gogek of La Mesa, and Adam Flint of Arcata; ten grandchildren; and a sister Jeretta Kayser of Douglas, WY.

Services for Dr. Flint will be held at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Dr., San Diego, CA 92122, on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, at 11:15 a.m.

The family wishes to thank the physicians, nurses and other staff at Scripps Green Hospital and Scripps Mercy Hospital for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Wounded Warrior Project or a charity of your choice.