Dermatology and Dr. Robert J. Schoenfeld was a perfect match. When asked once why he chose medicine as his field, he replied, "That seemed to be the easiest thing for me to do". He had keen observational abilities and a genuine interest in his patients, and his colleagues respected him. His uncle, Dr. Walther Schoenfeld, was Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Heidelberg University, Germany, and was another reason he chose this specialty. Dr. Schoenfeld was fluent in German and visited his relatives in Germany often.
Bob (as he was known) was the only child of Dr. Eric and Dr. Marie Schoenfeld. They were dentists who emigrated in 1922 from Germany and settled in Detroit. They attended University of Michigan School of Dentistry for one year to earn U.S. dental licenses, and each practiced in Detroit in separate offices for 50 years. Dr. Schoenfeld earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1949. After receiving a medical degree from Wayne State University in 1952, he returned to U of M for his internship. While there, he met his future wife, Franziska Isbell, who was a sophomore dental student at the UofM School of Dentistry. After their marriage on September 9, 1953, they parted ways while he served two years in the United States Army that sent him to Germany, and she completed her final two years of dental studies in Ann Arbor. Their marriage lasted 61 years.
Immediately following his dermatology residency at Wayne State University Affiliated Hospitals in 1958, Dr. Schoenfeld received an appointment as instructor in the WSU Dermatology Department. He participated regularly in weekly grand rounds for 55 years and in 2008 was appointed professor. In 1958, he began his practice in Birmingham, Michigan and was the only board-certified dermatologist in Oakland County. Over his career, he started three practices. The final one began in 2000 with Dr. Marcia Cardelli, who was like a daughter to him. It thrives today and now includes Dr. Traci Kimbrough and Dr. Snehal Desai. These last years of practice were sheer pleasure for him. He retired in 2013. Dr. Schoenfeld was one of the founding members of the Hermann Pinkus Lecture Foundation, named in honor of his mentor, Dr. Hermann Pinkus, the internationally known chair of dermatology at Wayne State University. The Foundation funds an endowed lectureship in Dr. Pinkus' honor. Dr. Schoenfeld was also chief of the dermatology division at William Beaumont Hospital for 35 years, and served a term as president of the Michigan Dermatological Society. He had papers published in American, Swiss and German Dermatological publications.
Dr. Schoenfeld's interest in photography which began as a hobby, developed into taking more than 20, 000 clinical slides that WSU dermatology residents have been using regularly. These slides continue to be a teaching tool.
Bob (as he was known) was the only child of Dr. Eric and Dr. Marie Schoenfeld. They were dentists who emigrated in 1922 from Germany and settled in Detroit. They attended University of Michigan School of Dentistry for one year to earn U.S. dental licenses, and each practiced in Detroit in separate offices for 50 years. Dr. Schoenfeld earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1949. After receiving a medical degree from Wayne State University in 1952, he returned to U of M for his internship. While there, he met his future wife, Franziska Isbell, who was a sophomore dental student at the UofM School of Dentistry. After their marriage on September 9, 1953, they parted ways while he served two years in the United States Army that sent him to Germany, and she completed her final two years of dental studies in Ann Arbor. Their marriage lasted 61 years.
Immediately following his dermatology residency at Wayne State University Affiliated Hospitals in 1958, Dr. Schoenfeld received an appointment as instructor in the WSU Dermatology Department. He participated regularly in weekly grand rounds for 55 years and in 2008 was appointed professor. In 1958, he began his practice in Birmingham, Michigan and was the only board-certified dermatologist in Oakland County. Over his career, he started three practices. The final one began in 2000 with Dr. Marcia Cardelli, who was like a daughter to him. It thrives today and now includes Dr. Traci Kimbrough and Dr. Snehal Desai. These last years of practice were sheer pleasure for him. He retired in 2013. Dr. Schoenfeld was one of the founding members of the Hermann Pinkus Lecture Foundation, named in honor of his mentor, Dr. Hermann Pinkus, the internationally known chair of dermatology at Wayne State University. The Foundation funds an endowed lectureship in Dr. Pinkus' honor. Dr. Schoenfeld was also chief of the dermatology division at William Beaumont Hospital for 35 years, and served a term as president of the Michigan Dermatological Society. He had papers published in American, Swiss and German Dermatological publications.
Dr. Schoenfeld's interest in photography which began as a hobby, developed into taking more than 20, 000 clinical slides that WSU dermatology residents have been using regularly. These slides continue to be a teaching tool.