Pediatrician plays many roles in treating children

Pediatrician Dr. George J. Schwartzenburg teams up with families in their common goal of keeping children healthy and happy.

Schwartzenburg, a Lake Charles native, had several family members who were medical professionals, which drew him toward being a doctor.
“I had older brothers I looked up to for their example,” said Schwartzenburg, one of 10 siblings.

Clifford, Ellis and Edward Schwartzenburg, all OB/GYN doctors, practiced together. 

A graduate of St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles, Schwartzenburg received his Bachelor of Science degree at McNeese State University in Lake Charles. When he entered LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport, where he received his medical degree, he thought he would become an OB/GYN physician like his brothers.
He noted, however, that “medical school is where you find out what your specialty is.”

In working with the children and families while pursuing his degree, Schwartzenburg discovered pediatrics was his calling. He completed his internship and residency training in pediatrics  at Tulane University in New Orleans.

After his brothers moved to Baton Rouge, Schwartzenburg, his wife, Deborah, and their growing family followed suit and moved to the area in 1999 when Schwartzenburg joined The  Pediatric Clinic, which merged with The Baton Rouge Clinic in 2017. They are active members of St. Thomas More Church in Baton Rouge.

Schwartzenburg is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. During his career, he has served as vice-president and president of the East Baton Rouge Parish Pediatric Society, as chief of pediatrics at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge and is a current member of the Woman’s Hospital Foundation.

While “physician” is Schwartzenburg’s official occupation, he assumes multiple roles in his daily interactions with children and families.

One role is teacher.

“I’m teaching (adults) everyday new things that are going on,” said Schwartzenburg.

Another role is being a detective.

“When (patients) are young they can’t tell you what’s wrong. They can’t speak to you like an adult, so you try to figure things out,” said Schwartzenburg.

He noted working with children requires patience, working with them on their terms and helping them through their fears.

A third role for Schwartzenburg, who is active in the Baton Rouge community through his involvement with several STM ministries, clubs and sporting events, is healer.

“I always treat (my patients) the same way I would treat my own child,” said Schwartzenburg, whose patients often call him “Dr. George.”
During difficult times, especially when a child is seriously ill, Schwartzenburg said he has learned that “you ultimately have to rely on faith in every situation.”

“Without faith to lean on it would be so very difficult,” said Schwartzenburg.

But the challenges are eclipsed by the joys of Schwartzenburg’s profession. Every day he sees the innocence and honesty of the children, as written about in the Bible, and the Holy Spirit at work.

“I laugh at some of the things they tell me … I’ll walk into the room and they’ll scream, ‘I don’t want a shot!’ They’ll say, ‘Your hair looks funny’ or ‘you have a big nose,’ ” mused Schwartzenburg.

Seeing God at work is the reward of Schwartzenburg’s profession. Just as he sees the beauty of a beach or beautiful sunrise, Schwartzenburg sees that same beauty “in a newborn baby and all the patients I see, just as in nature.”

As a father of four, Schwartzenburg, who enjoys backyard grilling with family and friends, traveling and conquering “DYI” projects, connects with the journeys many of his patient’s families are going through. And he approaches the care of his patients not only with his pediatrics experience, but as a father as well.

“Getting a smile out of my patients, even when they don’t feel well, is a welcome and fulfilling challenge,” said Schwartzenburg.