Alan Shafer, MD, a founding partner of Dayton (Ohio) Children's Hospital, died Feb. 4 at the age of 93, according to the Dayton Daily News.
Dr. Shafer was one of the first physicians in his community to say children should not be treated as adults. Instead, he advocated for specialized pediatric care. He partnered with Elise Mead, Wallace Taggart, MD, the March of Dimes and the Dayton-based Barney Convalescent Hospital to open the Barney Children's Medical Center in 1967.
Dr. Shafer served as the hospital's surgeon-in-chief and performed its first-ever surgery, which was a hernia replacement.
"Dayton Children's would not exist today if it were not for the dedication and determination of Dr. Shafer to ensure the children of Dayton had a great children's hospital close to home," the hospital said in a statement, according to the Dayton Daily News.