The University of Florida Department of Pediatrics is sad to share that Gerold L. Schiebler, M.D., a professor emeritus and a Distinguished Service Professor, passed away on March 2, at the age of 95.
Dr. Schiebler served as chair of the UF Department of Pediatrics for 27 years and was considered by many to be the father of the department. His impact was magnified by the pediatricians and pediatric specialists he helped train, many of whom he kept in regular touch with.
Born in 1928 and raised in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, Dr. Schiebler graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1954 and joined the UF College of Medicine in 1960, becoming the first pediatric cardiologist in North Florida. In 1968, he was named chair of the Department of Pediatrics and became the associate vice president for health affairs for external relations in 1985.
Dr. Schiebler helped found the division of Children’s Medical Services within the state’s department of health and rehabilitative services, serving in a variety of roles, including as statewide director, since 1971. He can be credited with more than 50 pro-child state laws, including those related to insurance coverage for babies at birth, poison control centers, infant hearing loss and more. He worked tirelessly to advocate for children, often in partnership with his late wife, Audrey Lincourt Schiebler.
Dr. Schiebler received many awards for his work, including the UF College of Medicine’s lifetime achievement award, and culminating most recently in the American Academy of Pediatrics Donald Schiff Award, the organization’s most prestigious award for child advocacy. However, no award could fully reflect his deep commitment to and understanding of the importance of community-based, family-centered care, which he advocated for so deeply.
The Schiebler family appreciates your consideration for their privacy at this difficult time and will plan a private memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Gerold L. Schiebler, M.D., and Audrey Lincourt Schiebler Children’s Advocacy Fellowship in Pediatrics. The Department of Pediatrics will honor his life and legacy with a memorial service in the near future, with details forthcoming.
We are grateful for Dr. Schiebler’s leadership and advocacy for children, and we extend our deepest condolences to his children and grandchildren.