UF pediatric urology pioneer Dixon Walker receives lifetime achievement award

University of Florida professor of surgery and pediatrics R. Dixon Walker III, M.D., the state’s first pediatric urologist, was honored for his lifetime achievements April 30 at the American Urological Association’s annual meeting in Chicago.

Walker received the Gold Cane Award for outstanding contributions to the profession. In 1973, while working as a UF assistant professor of surgery, Walker studied in London with D. Innes Williams, M.D., founder of pediatric urology, and subsequently began treating children exclusively. Walker organized the first pediatric urological journal and served as president of the two largest pediatric urological societies.

While maintaining a busy clinical practice, Walker conducted research in a variety of pediatric urological disorders, notably vesicoureteral reflux, an abnormal condition in which urine flows backward from the bladder into the ureters, the tubes that conduct urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Although now formally retired, he continues to treat patients one day a week at Shands at the University of Florida.

Walker cites the supportive atmosphere at UF’s College of Medicine as a major factor in his success and credits support from Gerold L. Schiebler, M.D., an adjunct distinguished service professor with UF’s College of Medicine and former chairman of pediatrics. Walker also credits his 33-year partnership with UF pediatric nephrologist George A. Richard, M.D., which provided clinical patients for research studies.

“Dixon is one of the premiere faculty members with whom I’ve had contact in my 42 years with the Health Science Center,” Schiebler said. “He and Dr. Richard established themselves as one of the nation’s finest teams in nephrology for children. I was fortunate as chairman of the department of pediatrics to see them in the early stage of their academic careers and (to see them) develop a phenomenally symbiotic professional relationship.”