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View Full Version : Help me find Dr. Snyder, please.


Natasha (again)
10-19-03, 02:14 PM
Do any of you know who this is?

Howard M. Snyder III, M.D., Professor of Urology in Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Associate Director, Division of Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

I can find no contact information on him. I have been forced to attempt to go through others, who are listed as being associated with him.

I was looking through on-line medical journals today, and I found this man, who has the same name as the doctor who performed surgery(s) on me, in the years between 1953 and 1955.

It is probably not 'the' Doctor in question, but it may be his son. And here I had given up hope of, ever finding a clue as to who he was. Maybe I got lucky finally. :)

I have sent emails, to a couple of people whom I hope, may be able to to help. I append them below.

I am not angry at him, as in those days they were certain, they were doing the right thing. I still believe that those doing such surgeries today, are without excuse however. They all know how we feel about it, and some still do it anyway.

Copies of emails sent today, censored for my protection.

*******

This one sent to fellow, and collaborator on a medical paper written about a case, very similar to my own.

*******

Dear Doctor,

I am searching for Dr. Snyder. I believe I may have been a patient of his. I was born with ambiguous genitalia in XXXXX, in the State of XXXX, on XXXX XX, 1952. I have been unable to locate medical records, documenting genital surgery(s), performed on me as a small child, between 1953 and 1955.

I have received anecdotal confirmation that this took place, from close relatives, and as well I have been diagnosed with a genetic syndrome, which is in line with this. In addition recent MRI results confirm, that such surgery must have been performed.

I am neither angry, or in any way seeking personal contact with Dr. Snyder. I am merely seeking relevant medical records. I seek these only in order to fully ascertain what surgery(s) took place, and the location at which it(they) were performed. I wish to know only for personal reasons, in order to make a bit more sense of my life.

I imagine that Dr. Snyder is no longer in practice, but I have found another Dr. Snyder, practicing in the same specialty. I wonder if he is the son of the doctor who operated on me, and or, if any medical records involving my case survive.

I realize this is all very nebulous and unusual. I have not added more information, making no assumption of what you would find relevant. I have done so, in the cause of maintaining the brevity and simplicity of my initial inquiry. Further more definitive disclosures such as you may require, are available upon your request. To aid in you ascertaining, if indeed Dr. Snyder or his father, was the treating physician in question.

Thank you very much for your consideration. I would be so very grateful for your reply, and any help you may be able to provide.

Respectfully,

Natasha Thompson

*******

This one to a department chair, at the Medical School he teaches at.


*******


Dear Ms. Oberthaler,

I am searching for Howard M. Snyder III, M.D. Professor of Urology in Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. I believe I may have been a patient of his father. I was born with ambiguous genitalia in XXXX XXXX, in the State of XXXX, on XXXX XX, 1952. I have been unable to locate medical records documenting genital surgery(s), performed on me as a small child, between 1953 and 1955.

I have received anecdotal confirmation that this took place, from close relatives, and as well I have been diagnosed with a genetic syndrome, which is in line with this. In addition recent MRI results confirm, that such surgery must have been performed. As well, I remember Dr. Snyder, as I saw him on many occasions as a small child.

I am neither angry, or in any way seeking personal contact with Dr. Snyder. I am merely seeking relevant medical records. I seek these only in order to fully ascertain what surgery(s) took place, and the location at which it(they) were performed. I wish to know only for personal reasons, in order to make a bit more sense of my life.

I imagine that the Dr. Snyder, who peformed surgery on me, is no longer in practice, but I have found your doctor Snyder, practicing in the same specialty. I wonder if he is the son, of the doctor who operated on me, and or, if any medical records involving my case survive.

I realize this is all very nebulous and unusual. I have not added more information, making no assumption of what you would find relevant. I have done so, in the cause of maintaining the brevity and simplicity of my initial inquiry. Further, more definitive disclosures such as you may require, are available upon your request. To aid you in your ascertaining, if indeed Dr. Snyder or his father, was the treating physician in question.

Thank you very much for your consideration. I would be so very grateful for your reply, and any help you may be able to provide.

Respectfully,

Natasha Thompson

Betsy
10-19-03, 03:28 PM
Natasha, have you contacted the hospital records dept to ask them for the records? if so, what did they say?

Betsy

claraJane
10-19-03, 05:21 PM
Howard Snyder, M.D.
Div. of Urology
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
34th & Civic Ctr. Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215.590.2767

And this link has a form for his e-mail address

http://author.emedicine.com/cgi-bin/foxweb.exe/screen@<hidden>:/em/ga?book=ped&editorid=3114&topicid=2356

Hope that helps my friend, :)
cjs

Natasha (again)
10-19-03, 11:15 PM
Thanks to both of you. :)

Betsy,

The hospital, according to my Grandma where the surgery was performed, no longer even exists. It was a small private one, and it went defunct in the late 60's. I was told that no medical records from that place, even exist anymore. I was shocked when I was first told this. I thought I was getting the run around, but I have been told that this is not uncommon at all.

Clara.

The link you posted, is to the same website I initially got the info from which reignited my search today. Kinda spooky huh? I came across it by accident. I was reading and it suddenly occurred to me, HEY!, that is the name of the doctor who stayed with us when I was just a toddler. The one who did the work on me.

I tried to send him an email through that "fill in type box", and an error kept occurring, over and over. It said my email has not been sent. Believe me, I tried it for 20 continuous minutes.



Funny how wired I have gotten over this again. I know it sounds silly. But I kind of think that since I just stumbled across a doctor "by accident", doing the same thing, who has the same name, that maybe it really 'is' him after all. He would have to be a hundred and something though, but it could be his son.

<sigh> Sometimes, even I think I am crazy.

I should have waited before sending those emails I think. It is just too much of a long shot. Truthfully, I am afraid to call that number. I fear they will just brush me off in an insensitive way, and I am not ready to face another dead end either. I don't know why I even care really. I am not even really sure, what it is I am feeling. I just know it is a very strong emotion. This is not a good sign for me. I know myself all too well, as I have been here before.

Never mind, forget I even asked. I feel so foolish.

claraJane
10-20-03, 06:54 AM
He appears to be on the board of trustees for the American Board of Urology.

2216 Ivy Road Suite 210
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 979-0059

and...

E-Mail: snyderh@<hidden>

Natasha (again)
10-20-03, 11:40 AM
Heavens sake! This whole thing just keeps getting heavier. I have been going back and forth about the very idea of contacting him, and now this. Well, it figures.

It seems this guy is a major player. I really need to proceed carefully. Maybe if I approach him right, even if he is unrelated to the doctor in question, I may be able to make him rethink the IGM policy, at least in part. He probably isn't even related, but sine he is such a big shot, now I really wonder just why I came across his writings. I kind of wonder just 'WHO' is behind that. Know what I mean Clara?

Obviously this is far more than a mere personal matter concerning me. So I need to proceed with this in mind. No sense in alienating him, and thereby make him less sympathetic to our concerns. One thing is certain, I need to take my time with this, and be careful to keep my neurosis in check.

Does anyone know if any of us have contacted him previously?

Oh, by the way. I got a reply from Ms. Oberthaler. It was a terse sigle line. "You need to contact the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia."

Hey, I really look forward to dealing with these kindly compassionate doctors, let me tell you.

claraJane
10-20-03, 08:52 PM
I looked him up on an insurance web site....

Snyder, Howard M, MD
PEDIATRIC UROLOGY
Sees patients under the age of 19
N 34th St And Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19019
(215) 590-2754
Hospital Privileges: Child Hospital of Phila

Same address, different phone. :)

Natasha (again)
10-20-03, 09:11 PM
That's darn sweet of you. :)


I am going to wait a bit until I am well composed, then I am going to ring him up.

Thanks again dear.

elijah
10-20-03, 10:42 PM
"The hospital, according to my Grandma where the surgery was performed, no longer even exists. It was a small private one, and it went defunct in the late 60's. I was told that no medical records from that place, even exist anymore. I was shocked when I was first told this. I thought I was getting the run around, but I have been told that this is not uncommon at all. "

i was told the same thing and that my doctor is now dead.

Natasha (again)
10-20-03, 11:05 PM
Very frustrating isn't it though?

I think I may know Just how you feel. It makes me feel so very insignificant, as though my life is of no consequence at all. I know this doesn't make sense, but that is it alright.

My sympathies dear Elijah.