Fritz, Dr. William T., aged 62 of Richland Township, passed peacefully with his family by his side on March 15, 2023, in Durham, North Carolina. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 35 years Mary E. (Pillage) Fritz, and his parents Thomas V. and Barbara L. (Jacob) Fritz. He is survived by his four children and their families: Kristine Fritz of Raleigh, NC; Dr. Andrea Fritz and Devin McDermott of Durham, NC; Mark Fritz and Selena Hernandez Fritz of Raleigh, NC; and Kaitlin Fritz and Andrew Barton of Cambridge, UK. In addition to being a loving father, he was a proud Oompa to his grandchildren Brielle, Elise, and Ian McDermott. He will also be missed by his fiancée Vivian Boyer of Scottdale, PA; his sister Juliann Fritz Brigham and her husband Chris Brigham of Park City, UT; and his siblings-in-law Billy Pilleggi, Linda Pillage, and Paul Moran-Pillage of Pittsburgh, PA.

William was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on August 14, 1960. Even as a child, he was a social butterfly and had a gift for cultivating life-long and meaningful relationships. In fact, he started courting Mary, his soulmate, in junior high. Together, they weathered many storms and created a beautiful life.

William, with Mary by his side, pursued his dream of becoming a doctor. The two graduated from Churchill Area High School, after which William attended Washington & Jefferson College. He majored in Biology and Economics, was a proud member of ZBT Fraternity, and graduated in 1982. Following graduation, William, Mary, and little Kristine moved to Philadelphia, where William studied medicine at Hahnemann University from 1982 through 1986. Combining his interest in patient care, knack for physiology, and enjoyment of procedures, he pursued anesthesiology through residency at Hahnemann University. In the more than three decades that followed, William served patients across the country, especially in Johnstown, PA, where he at one point was Director of Anesthesiology at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. As a physician, he took great pride in the care of every patient, the camaraderie of his colleagues, and the scholarship of his work.

Beyond his professional work, he found immense fulfillment mentoring local college students in Conemaugh’s Mentoring in Medicine Program. From formal lectures, visits to universities, and chats in the backyard, he shared his insight with hundreds of future doctors and medical professionals. But anyone who stopped by the house or spoke to him realized that his mentoring and desire to help knew no bounds.

William was also a loving and dedicated family man who always supported his children and grandchildren, from cheering the loudest at graduations and dancing around at preschool celebrations to being a shoulder to cry on and a hand to hold in the hard moments. He lived life to the fullest, which included having adventures across the US and abroad, learning a new language in his last years of life, keeping park dates with his grandkids, and never saying no to a good show or concert. With any spare time he had though, he also sought opportunities to serve others and the community he loved. He was a faithful member of St. Benedict Catholic Church, an advocate for his children’s alma maters St. Benedict’s Catholic School (now Divine Mercy) and Bishop McCort High School, and a supporter of various universities in Western Pennsylvania.

William left a trail of kindness wherever he went, and he will greatly be missed. But his legacy—professionally and personally—will live on in the hearts of all those he touched.

Viewings will be held at Meek & Della Valle Funeral Home in Windber, PA, on Wednesday, March 22, from 4-8PM, and Thursday, March 23, from 12-2PM and 6-8PM. The funeral mass will be held on Friday, March 24, at 10AM at St. Benedict’s Church in Geistown, PA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in William’s memory to any of the educational scholarship funds close to his heart: The Dr. William Fritz Family Fund at Bishop McCort High School; The Mary E. and William T. Fritz Memorial Fund at St. Vincent College; The Mr. Thomas V. and Dr. William T. Fritz Memorial Prize at Washington and Jefferson College; The Zeno and Thomas Fritz Endowment Fund at Duquesne University; or The Sandzimier Endowed Memorial Scholarship Internship Fund at Seton Hill.

Education

M.B.A. University of Pittsburgh, Katz School of Business, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 1994-June 1996

M.D. Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 1982-June 1986

B.A. Economics, Biology, Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, Pennsylvania September 1978 June-1982

Post Graduate Medical Education

Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California

Visiting Fellow, Management of Perioperative Services. Department of Anesthesia, Alex Macario M.D., M.B.A, May 1996

St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania CA III Pediatric Anesthesiology, January 1990-July 1990

Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Anesthesiology Residency, CA III Subspecialty Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, July 1987-December 1989

Cooper Hospital University Medical Center, Camden, New Jersey. Surgery Internship. June 1986-July 1987

Board Certification

National Board of Echocardiography-Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography 2006

National Board of Medical Examiners, 1987

American Board of Anesthesiology, 1991 Recertified 2009

American Board of Anesthesiology, Certificate of Added Qualifications in Pain Management 1996, Recertified 2006, 2018

American Board of Anesthesiology, Continued Demonstration of Qualifications Certificate 1996

Licensure

Pennsylvania MD 040760-E

State Athletic Commission (Boxing) #539

Professional Experience

Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown, PA

Director, Division Anesthesiology January 1999-December 2006, January 2013-Present

Meyersdale Medical Center Staff Anesthesiologist April-2018-Present

Director Acute Pain Service January 2006-Present

Staff Anesthesiologist, Department of Anesthesiology, April 1996- December 1998

System Executive for Medical Management, Johnstown, PA January 1999-December 2001

Bons Secours Holy Family Medical Center, Altoona, PA Staff Anesthesiologist July 1999-July 2004

Good Samaritan Medical Center, Johnstown, PA

Chief Anesthesiologist, Department of Anesthesiology, April 1992-April 1996

Altoona Hospital, Altoona, PA Staff Anesthesiologist, April 1994- April 1996

Mercy Hospital, Altoona, PA Staff Anesthesiologist, February 1991- March 1992

Mercy Hospital, Charlotte, North Carolina, Staff Anesthesiologist, July 1990-December 1991

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Nama S., Meenan D.R., Fritz W.T. The Use of Subanesthetic Intravenous Ketamine and Adjuvant

Dexmedetomidine when Treating Acute Pain from CRPS Pain Physician 2010; 13: 365-368.

Buckenmier C.C., Kwon K H, Howard R.S., McKnight G.M., Shriver C.D., Fritz W.T., Garguilo G.A., Joltes K.H., Stojadinovic A. Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled, Prospective Randomized Trail Evaluating the Efficacy of Paravertebral Block Analgesia in Outpatient Breast Cancer Surgery, Pain Medicine 2010:11:790-799.

Ashurst JV, Wason MH, Hauger W, Fritz W.T. Pathophysiologic mechanisms, diagnosis, and management of dapsone-induced methemoglobinemia J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2010;110(1):16, 19-21.

Ashurst JV, Fritz W.T. The use of Paravertebral blocks to transition to ambulatory bilateral inferior pedicle reduction mammoplasties: A retrospective study of 20 consecutive patients, Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 200 Aug; 108(8); 431-432.

Ashurst JV, Wasson MN, Fritz W.T, Fink W. Recurrent meningitis caused by HSV-2: a case of Mollarets disease. Journal of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association. 2009 Sep;53(3): 11-12

Po R, Ashurst JV, Fritz W.T. Prolonged submersion in an Amish child with no neurologic deficits: A case report, Journal of Critical Care Medicine. 2009 Dec; 37 Supplement: 1071

Delphin E, Jackson D., Gubenko Y., Botea A., Esrig B., Berry., Fritz W.T., Mavridis S. Sevoflurane provides earlier tracheal extubation than isoflurane in patients undergoing off-pump coronary bypass surgery Journal of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Anesthesia 21 (5): 690-5 October 2007.

Meenan D, Legares-Garcia J, Kurek S, Crag D, Green J, Fritz W.T., Managing Intractable Pain with an Intrathecal catheter and Injection Port: Technique and Guidelines. The American Surgeon. 65(11): 1054-60. November 2000.

Book Chapter

Peripheral Nerve Block Equipment, Fritz, William

Military Advanced Regional Anesthesia and Analgesia Handbook

Buckenmier, Chester, Bleckner Lisa, Borden Institute, Walter Reed Army Medical Center 2008

Presentations

Virtual Medical Trainer for Regional Anesthesiology Stone JR, Fritz WT

Society for Simulation in Medicine Annual Meeting 2007

Perioperative Management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Fritz WT

Scientific Exhibit

American Society of Anesthesiologist Annual Meeting, 2005

Perioperative Management of Charot-Marie-Tooth Disease Theresa Cole, DO Christian McKinney, MD, William Fritz, MD Scientific Exhibit American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting, 2005

Abstracts

Resident Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery Pathway for Colorectal Surgery in a Rural Community

Urias, D.S., Marley, M. Tersine T., Fritz W.T., Dumire R. Academic Surgical Conference Annual Meeting 2018

Treatment of an Occipital Lobe Epidural Abscess in the Third Trimester: A Case Report Averna, J., Fritz W.T. American Society of Anesthesiologist Annual Meeting, 2011

Complications of Regional Anesthetic Procedures at A Rural level One Trauma Center Our Acute Pain Services First 5000 Blocks

Fritz, W.T., Meenan, D. R., Gargulio, J.M. International Anesthesia Research Society Meeting 2009

The use of Paravertebral blockage to transition to ambulatory bilateral inferior pedicle reduction mammoplasties: A retrospective study of 20 consecutive patients. Ashust J. Fritz, W

American Osteopathic Association Research Conference 2009 It Happens, Wrong Side Blocks Despite Patient and Multiple Staff Member Involvement-Our New Preventions Mechanism

Fritz, W.T., Joltes, K, Meenan D, Wasko, K American Society of Regional Anesthesia Annual Meeting 2007

Combined Spinal Epidural Anesthesia for Nephrectomy in a Patient with End Stage Myotonic Dystrophy

Fritz, W.T., Sabori A. McKinney C Medically Challenging Case American Society of Anesthesiologist Annual Meeting, 2006

Congenital Single Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in a Pregnant Patient. Fritz, W.T. Deveneni R. Murton C. Khandelwal A. Cole T.

Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Annual Meeting, 2005. Retrograde Placement of a Double-Lumen Endobronchial Tube for Independent Lung Ventilation. Fritz, W.T., Shankar, T, McKinney, C, Dumire R

Critical Care Congress of the Society for Critical Care Medicine International Educational & Scientific Symposium, 2005 Embolectomy and Thrombolytic Therapy for Massive Pulmonary Embolism. Fritz, W.T., Gatmaitan P, Malhis S, Mavridis S.

Critical Care Congress of the Society for Critical Care Medicine International Educational & Scientific Symposium, 2005 Carinoid Tumor and Eisenmenger’s Syndrome: Can Tumor Resections Improve Intracardiac Shunt? Khandelwal A, Fikri E, Hussain A, Fritz W.T.

Southeastern Surgical Congress Annual Scientific Meeting 2005 Utilization of a Home Nursing Protocol Allows Patients to be Discharged Prior to Voiding. Fritz, W.T., Georg L, Krull N, Krug J.

International Anesthesia Research Society, 1997 Measuring Operating Room Quality Performance Attributes, Rodger JA, Paper DJ, Pendharkar PC (Fritz, W.T.)

Decision Science Institute, 1997 Preoperative Risk Stratification Grouping Decreases Both Preoperative Testing and Costs in Same Day Surgery Patients. Fritz, W.T., Kunkel FA.

International Anesthesia Research Society Annual Meeting 1996 

Teaching and Academic Appointments

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine- Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery, Anesthesiology and Pain Management

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine 2013-Present

Chatham University-Nursing Doctoral Thesis Mentor 2011 Postoperative Hand -off Communications: Ensuring the Continuity, Quality, and Safety of Patient Care. Liszewski, Paul L.

American Institute of Biological Sciences-Scientific Peer Reviewer 2010- F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine

Regional Anesthesia Fellowship Rotation Conemaugh Health System Site Coordinator 2006

Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center Interim Director of Research, General Surgery Residency Program, Department of Surgery 2003-2006

Excel Health School of Anesthesia, Latrobe PA Clinical/Didactic Instructor 1996-Present

Research

US Air Force Virtual Medical Trainer-Anesthesia

Prime Contract FA7014-07-C0004

Mountain Top Technologies/U.S. Air Force District of Washington

Subject Matter Expert-Regional Anesthesia ($30,000)

Virtual Medical Trainer

Award W811XWH-60-2-0010

Mountain Top Technologies

U.S. Air Force Medical Services Office of Modernizations

Subject Matter Expert-Regional Anesthesia ($60,000)

Evaluation of Sevoflurane as the Primary Anesthetic Agent for Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. Principal Investigator-Multicenter Trial. 2003-2005

Funded by Abbott Labs, Inc. ($47060)

Pre-operative Use of Valdecoxib as an Opioid-Sparing Analgesic Among Patients Undergoing Inguinal Herniorrhaphy.

Principle Investigator IND 68,605 for new indication

Application submitted to FDA 11/12/03: Approval for Safety Review 12/8/03 2004-Placed on Clinical Hold by FDA on 4/7/2005 Funded by Independent Research Grant-Pfizer ($5,000)

Double-Blinded, Placebo Controlled Prospective Randomized Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Continuous Paravertebral Catheter with Paravertebral Block in Breast Cancer Surgery. Principal Investigator. 2004-Present Proposal No. 04070001, Award No. W1XWh-05-1-0047 Funded by Henry S. Jackson Foundation (Component of $13 million grant)

Anatomy for Acute Pain Medicine-Ultrasound & Dissection Workshop Course Director 2009, 2010, and 2011

Invited Lectures

Anesthetic Management of Pheochromocytoma. Hahnemann University Grand Rounds, Department of Anesthesiology, Philadelphia, PA 1988

Epidural Narcotics and Patient Controlled Analgesia. Critical Care Nursing Internship Program 1988

Local Anesthetic Uses and Toxicity, Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 1989

Anesthetic Management of Liver Transplantation. Grand Rounds, Department of Anesthesiology, Hahnemann University, 1989

Post-Anesthetic Management of the Critically Ill Patient. Critical Care Nursing Internship Program, Hahnemann University, 1989

Anesthetic Implications of Scoliosis. St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, 1990

Anesthesia and Anesthetic Drug Pharmacology. Mount Aloysius College, 1991

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs-New Advances in Pain Management, 1992

Acute Pain Management-The Role of NSAID’s in Anesthesia. Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists, District 7 Annual Meeting, 1992

Introduction to Anesthesia. Mount Aloysius College, 1992

Physiology and Management of Pain. Mount Aloysius College, 1992

Insights into Pain Mechanisms and Management. Central Pennsylvania Podiatric Society Annual Meeting, 1992

Options in the Management of Acute Pain, Frostburg Hospital, 1993

Acute Pain What’s New? Wat to Do! Bedford County Medical Society., 1993

Acute and Chronic Pain, Mount Aloysius College, 1993

Hemodynamic Monitoring, Cambria County Association of Operating Room Nurses, 1993

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. Grand Rounds, Mercy Medical Center, 1993

User of Opioids for Non-Malignant Pain, Mercy medical Center, 1995

Accurate Operating Room Scheduling-Can You Do It? A Quick Review of the Literature. Stanford University, 1996

Gun control, Violence and the First Amendment. Washington and Jefferson College, 1997

What Does Quality Mean for Anesthesia? Altoona Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia Commencement Address Honorarium, Roche Laboratories, 1997

Management of Perioperative Myocardial Ischemia, Grand Rounds, Windber Hospital. 1997

Local Anesthetics and Regional Anesthesia. University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Program 1998

Medical Resource Management-Wat are the True Costs of Care? Grand Rounds, Memorial Medical Center, 2001

Pharmacology of Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors, Medicine Update 2003 Seven Springs, Pennsylvania

Anesthesia and Morbid Obesity. Anesthesiology Grand Rounds West Virginia University, 2004

Expanding Clinical Experience with Sevoflurane-Uniontown Hospital, 2005

Multimodal Approaches to Pain Management, John P. Murtha Pain Management Symposia, Johnstown, PA 2007

Developing and Acute Pain Service: The Memorial Medical Center Experience. Grand Rounds Memorial Medical Center Johnstown, PA 2008

Management of Failed Intubation. Advanced Airway Course Memorial Medical Center Johnstown PA, 2009

Major Projects

Cardiac Surgery Program-Bon Secours Holy Family Medical Center Altoona, PA

Feasibility Study though Program Establishment

Affiliation Agreement-Bon Secours Altoona-Conemaugh Health Systems

Conemaugh Negotiating Committee Physician Consultant

System Financial Benchmarking Study-Conemaugh Health System-APM Co-Chair $220 Million Health System National Benchmarking Study

Surgical Service Redesign-Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center

Chairman $23 Million Cost and Operational Redesign

Outcomes-Medical Management-Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center

Process, resources utilization and cost structure modification of 10 DRGs with the establishment of 14 Clinical Guidelines resulting in institutional decrease of ½ day in length of stay and direct cost savings of approximately $2 million

Completion of 2 National Quality Demonstration Projects including Pneumonia initiative that resulted in 50% decrease in mortality

Achieving HCIA Top 100 Hospital Status in Orthopedics and Cardiac Surgery

Hospital-Anesthesia group shared employee-agreement resulting in $300k of additional hospital revenue

Surgical Research-regulatory compliance review and increased contract funding from less than $100K to over $600+K

Acute Pain Service-In association with the United States Army Regional Anesthesia Pain Management Initiative. Creation of multidisciplinary clinical team and continuous peripheral nerve block catheter program with expansions to over 1600 procedures and 1000 pain resource team consults year. Recognized by the Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists with the Innovative and Collaborative Practice Award 2012

Anesthesia Service Consultant-Wellmont Health System

Service redesigns resulting in cost savings of $500,000

Appointments

Conemaugh Health Foundation Board of Directors 2003-2010

Conemaugh-Good Samaritan Medical Staff President 2000

Conemaugh-Good Samaritan Medical Staff Vice-President 1999

Conemaugh-Good Samaritan Medical Staff Consolidation Task Force 1996

Good Samaritan Medical Staff President 1996

Cambria County Medical Society-Board of Directors 1996-1997

United Way of Greater Johnstown-Chairman Medical Arts Division 1995, 1994

Awards and Recognition

Service Excellence Award, Good Samaritan Medical Center 1995

Partners in Care (Patient Service Honor) Hahnemann University 1988

Certifications

ATLS, ACLS, PALS 

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