Dr. Perry and Sally Schoenecker

The youngest members of our community have benefited for many years from Sally and Perry Schoenecker’s shared passion for serving children. Both of their careers and philanthropic endeavors are child-centered, Sally as a pre-school educator and administrator and Perry a pediatric orthopedist.

Sally was a teacher and director at Eliot Chapel Nursery School for 30 years where she was instrumental in developing dynamic strategies for early childhood education. Since retiring, Sally has volunteered to take all Washington University Pediatric Residents to observe typically developing pre-school age children. This is a part of the Resident’s month long Development rotation at St Louis Children’s Hospital under the direction of Dr. Paul Simons. A dog lover and owner of three standard poodles, Sally volunteers regularly, taking her touch therapy dog, Yadi, to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and to Missouri Baptist Cancer Center. Sally and Yadi bring joy to patients and are instrumental in helping to lower their anxiety during their hospital stay. Sally was the first board chair at both the Magic House and at Ready Readers. She was influential in developing and growing both of boards and continues to be involved, lending her knowledge and expertise.

Dr. Schoenecker has practiced orthopedic surgery at Barnes Jewish, St Louis Children’s and St Louis Shriners Hospitals where he was the chief surgeon for 40 years. His specialty in orthopedics includes congenital and developmental lower extremity problems of the hip, knee, foot and ankle, as well as adolescent and young hip problems. He has published over 150 articles in numerous journals. Dr. Schoenecker has been a frequent recipient of the Washington University Orthopedics Palma Chironis Award for best teacher of Residents and the Jerome Guilden Award as a Distinguished Physician. He travels abroad extensively as a representative of the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America (POSNA) in ongoing efforts in training surgeons. Locally, Dr. Schoenecker has been instrumental in working with both the Belize Children’s Organization and the World Pediatric Project. The combined efforts of these humanitarian organizations have made it possible for several hundred children to come to St Louis for complex orthopedic surgeries. This is often care that is unavailable in their home countries. This year Dr. Schoenecker was the recipient of the Pediatric Orthopedic Society’s Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Award.

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