After graduating from the University of California, Dr. Schwend completed his medical training at St. Louis University School of Medicine. His internship was at Duke University and pediatric residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital, thereafter serving in the Public Health Service for 3 years in Zuni New Mexico. He did his orthopaedic residency at Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Program and pediatric orthopaedic fellowship at The Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, completing training in 1992. Dr. Schwend was selected for the Harvard University, Cave Fellowship, Bern Switzerland 1993 and the Scoliosis Research Society Traveling fellowship to Asia 2001. He is board certified in orthopaedics and pediatrics. He is active in the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America and is a member of their Board of Directors as well as Chair of the Committee on Underserved Regions. He is a Chair of the Section on Orthopaedics of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a member of the Scoliosis Research Society. He is Board Member of Project Perfect World, which since 2002 has been developing a pediatric orthopaedic and spine program in Ecuador. His research interests involve program development in regions with limited resources and pediatric spine deformity, including pediatric spine and chest anatomy. He is retired as Colonel United States Air Force. Professor Orthopedics and pediatrics, UMKC ,KU ABOS, ABP, FAAP