James Schmitt

Dr. James Schmitt was born in Oakland, California.

A view of the planet Mars through a telescope when he was twelve years old set him on the path to becoming an astronomer. However, in the Junior year of college he found his humanistic side and decided to go to medical school. He was the first astronomer ever admitted to the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine.

For a time he regretted giving up the elegant field of astronomy for the more mundane, practical, field of medicine. But over the years he realized that it was a privilege to be a physician who was trusted by his patients with their lives. He sometimes took his telescope to the homes of terminal patients to show them the Universe and the face of God.

Dr. Schmitt interned at a time when house officers sometimes worked for 32 hours without sleep. Then the exhausted interns were pilloried for their mistakes at Morbidity and Mortality Conference. He discusses the impact of stress and fatigue on patient care. He discovered that humor was an alternative means of neutralizing stress.

Humor is especially powerful in the medical environment. The pathos and low points make levity, when it occurs, more welcome.

Dr. Schmitt's sense of humor, military service, work with veterans, and practice in the Third World have made him widely sought as a speaker for groups such as Kiwanis and Rotary. His amusing anecdotes have caused his colleagues to dub him "The Story Teller".

"Speed Bumps and Tsetse Flies" chronicles a physician's evolution from a student who reluctantly goes to medical school "so he can get a job", to a time many years later where he loves his patients and won't retire "as long as there is one grateful patient".

"The Lottery of Life and Death" discusses the impact of chance on life and the practice of medicine. The daily drama of medicine is heightened by mistakes that sometimes have tragic consequences. The death of one patient teaches a lesson that saves the life of the next patient.

"Saving Karma", a story from this book, was an invited presentation at the American College of Physicians' meeting in Philadelphia in 2019.

His recent novel "Your Destiny is Not in the Stars" looks at good and evil in the practice of medicine. Two characters are followed for years, finally meeting in the investigation of a crime. Dr. Schmitt's favorite book is "Huckleberry Finn" which follows the adventures of two friends on a river. "Your Destiny..." follows two friends on a road. Another favorite is "The Wizard of Oz". Look for the Scarecrow, the Woodchopper, and the "Lion."

Readers praise his clear descriptions of disease processes.

Dr. Schmitt has been awarded the Veteran's Administrations' "Hands and Heart" award for humanism in the practice of medicine.