An unwavering dedication to exceptional care has enabled Dr. Timothy Schacherer to build strong trust and loyalty among his patients, many of whom have been with him for decades.

“Some of these people that I’ve taken care of were with me when I showed up here in 1994 and have been my patients for over 20 years now,” said Dr. Schacherer, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Plastic Surgery. “They followed me into private practice and then followed me back to the University. They’re truly my patients. It’s like a private practice within the University.”

Dr. Schacherer first joined UTSW in 1994 after retiring from the Navy. He left for private practice in 1998 and then was recruited back to UTSW in 2013 to help run the hand and upper extremity services. Recently he was appointed the inaugural holder of the Robert W. Bucholz, M.D. Professorship in Orthopaedic Surgery.

An accomplished surgeon and tireless educator, the late Dr. Bucholz served as UTSW’s first Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery from 1989 to 2006.

“It’s quite an honor since I worked with Dr. Bucholz back in the ’90s when I retired from the Navy,” he said. “He was a well-respected orthopedist and he taught people here for more than 20 years.”

Dr. Dane K. Wukich, Professor and Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, called the Bucholz honor befitting.

“As a retired U.S. Navy Captain who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Dr. Schacherer exemplifies the pillars of leadership – integrity, responsibility, and accountability,” Dr. Wukich said. “In addition to being a highly skilled surgeon, Dr. Schacherer’s patients reward him with exceptional patient satisfaction scores. He is a role model for all members of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.”

After earning his medical degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Dr. Schacherer served both an internship in general surgery and his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Naval Medical Center. He then completed a fellowship in hand surgery at Thomas Jefferson University.

“This endowment will allow us to involve the residents in some additional research that’s funded. We try to have the residents on the shoulder and elbow service produce a paper for publication each rotation, so this will help,” Dr. Schacherer said.