Hard to believe its been two yeas since the death of my dear friend and colleague. Think of you everyday for what you taught me about being a  better surgeon, husband an friend.

The other day, I received a text from a colleague about the passing of Dr. Szuchmacher. 
I had the privilege  of beginning to working alongside him sometime in 1985, a relationship which would bond two professions, Vascular Surgery and Podiatry for well over 30 years.   He called me one day  in the early days of my career and asked me how my Spanish was. This ultimately lead to a job working alongside him at a clinic in Jackson Heights. 
This diminutive appearing man  was quite the fighter and did not back down from a cause he saw which was right.  He fought to expand the privileges for podiatrists throughout Queens at several hospitals,  despite the professional backlash he must have received from other colleagues. He carried that fight all through the 30+ years, where I worked at several hospitals with him, ensuring patients got the best care without regard to remuneration, prestige or the negativity others inside or outside of his specialty must have rained down on him. He did this because in his words, it's not about me, its about the patients and who can provide the best care, regardless of their professional degree.
Over the last several years we did not speak or see each other regularly largely because of my departure from clinical practice. 
One of the things  I will missed most about not being in clinical practice and I'm afraid now will miss forever,  is at the hospital, where, when I saw his name on the OR schedule, I would simply walk into his OR, and no matter how tense the situation, he would always look up, say hello and I could still sense that warm smile right through his mask. He would then explain what he was doing & why, even if outside of my scope of practice. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, teach and most important be a friend.  He never dismissed a phone call from me, nor me from him. 
I'm so sorry for this great loss to all.  RIP my friend. I know you'll be watching and fighting for all that is right from high above.



Dr Schumaker descanse en paz será muy recordado por todos sus pacientes y todos los que trabajamos con el Dios lo tenga en su gloria 

Dr sZuchmacher  is one of a kind man. I remember my early years of being a vascular technologist, dr sZuchmacher’s was one of my first offices to work in. I felt so intimidated my first few days, he was running from room to room and I had to keep up with his pace (which is super fast) and I remember him saying to me “after you work here everywhere else will be easy” and he was right. Eleven years later, everywhere else is easy. I loved working with him over the years. Such a talented surgeon and caring person. At his age, still able to perform vascular surgery is amazing and to do it with such pride and ease and to be so great at it is an inspiration.   I learned a lot from dr szuchmacher and I will always remember him and his kindness toward me. My prayers are with the family. <3 

OBITUARY

Pinkus H. Szuchmacher

June 12, 1940 – August 8, 2021

Riverside-Nassau North Chapels

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