Eastern Michigan Athletics
Longtime EMU Team Physician "Doc" Roeser Passes Away
6/28/2018 8:33:00 AM | General, Sports Medicine
Dr. Waldomar Roeser was inducted into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005
Obituary.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Former Eastern Michigan University physician and E-Club Hall of Famer Dr. Waldomar Roeser passed away Monday, June 25, at the age of 83. Roeser dedicated five decades of his life to the athletic department as EMU's chief orthopedic specialist.
Affectionately referred to as Doc or Wally, Roeser began helping Eastern Michigan student-athletes in 1971 continued to support the department's sports medicine efforts until recently. He along with founding practitioners Gary Strickland and Ron Venis envisioned and created a first-class prevention, management and rehabilitation program for EMU student-athletes.
For his service to the EMU Department of Athletics, Roeser was inducted into the E-Club Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2005
Roeser received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan in 1956 and 1960, respectively. He completed his general surgery internship (1960-61) and general surgery residency (1961-62) at U-of-Michigan. In 1962, he entered the Army Medical Corps and completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the Tripier Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i (1965-68).
During his army surgical career, Roeser was deployed to Germany and Vietnam where he was chief of professional services at the Third Surgical Hospital. In 1970, he was appointed chief of the Department of Surgery and chief of orthopaedic surgery at Irwin Army Hospital in Fort Riley, Kan. He earned numerous honors during his career, including the Bronze Star with a Four Oak Leaf Cluster.
Roeser left the armed services in 1971 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and went into practice at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital as a clinical instructor. He joined the University of Michigan faculty in 1999 as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of MedSport.
Very early in his training, Dr. Roeser's talent were recognized with the Regents Alumni Scholar Award, the Moses Gomberg Scholar in Chemistry Award, and the Rollo E. McCotter Anatomy Award. He was widely regarded for his expertise in the area of sports medicine and, in particular, knee and shoulder arthroscopic surgery.
He lectured regionally and nationally on hand and knee injuries in athletes. His expertise was also recognized by his appointment as a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and his appointment to the board of directors of The Institute for Preventative Sports Medicine. His teaching activity was recognized by the residents, who awarded him the Golden Scalpel Resident Clinical Teaching Award on two occasions (2001 and 2005). In 2012, Roeser earned clinical assistant professor emeritus of orthopaedic surgery from U-of-M upon his retirement from practice.
A gathering of friends is being planned and will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Eastern Michigan University Foundation, Athletic Department (Eastern Michigan University Foundation, 00045 - Athletic Training & Sports Medicine, 112 Welch Hall 850 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197).
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Former Eastern Michigan University physician and E-Club Hall of Famer Dr. Waldomar Roeser passed away Monday, June 25, at the age of 83. Roeser dedicated five decades of his life to the athletic department as EMU's chief orthopedic specialist.
Affectionately referred to as Doc or Wally, Roeser began helping Eastern Michigan student-athletes in 1971 continued to support the department's sports medicine efforts until recently. He along with founding practitioners Gary Strickland and Ron Venis envisioned and created a first-class prevention, management and rehabilitation program for EMU student-athletes.
For his service to the EMU Department of Athletics, Roeser was inducted into the E-Club Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2005
Roeser received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan in 1956 and 1960, respectively. He completed his general surgery internship (1960-61) and general surgery residency (1961-62) at U-of-Michigan. In 1962, he entered the Army Medical Corps and completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the Tripier Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i (1965-68).
During his army surgical career, Roeser was deployed to Germany and Vietnam where he was chief of professional services at the Third Surgical Hospital. In 1970, he was appointed chief of the Department of Surgery and chief of orthopaedic surgery at Irwin Army Hospital in Fort Riley, Kan. He earned numerous honors during his career, including the Bronze Star with a Four Oak Leaf Cluster.
Roeser left the armed services in 1971 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and went into practice at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital as a clinical instructor. He joined the University of Michigan faculty in 1999 as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of MedSport.
Very early in his training, Dr. Roeser's talent were recognized with the Regents Alumni Scholar Award, the Moses Gomberg Scholar in Chemistry Award, and the Rollo E. McCotter Anatomy Award. He was widely regarded for his expertise in the area of sports medicine and, in particular, knee and shoulder arthroscopic surgery.
He lectured regionally and nationally on hand and knee injuries in athletes. His expertise was also recognized by his appointment as a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and his appointment to the board of directors of The Institute for Preventative Sports Medicine. His teaching activity was recognized by the residents, who awarded him the Golden Scalpel Resident Clinical Teaching Award on two occasions (2001 and 2005). In 2012, Roeser earned clinical assistant professor emeritus of orthopaedic surgery from U-of-M upon his retirement from practice.
A gathering of friends is being planned and will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Eastern Michigan University Foundation, Athletic Department (Eastern Michigan University Foundation, 00045 - Athletic Training & Sports Medicine, 112 Welch Hall 850 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197).
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