John B. Schrock MD ’65

2023 Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement: College of Health Sciences

From working in the emergency room, the personal lesson John B. Schrock, MD ’65 learned is that every day is a gift from God, so use it wisely. Schrock grew up in Sharon, WI, a small town of 1,000 people that had only one medical doctor in town, which was his father. 

His father was very busy, but never too busy to help with his blossoming interests, such as pitching baseball, boy scouts, and playing the trumpet. With the love and support of both his parents and the satisfaction his father experienced in his work, Schrock’s interest in becoming a physician grew. A medical career seemed like a great way to combine caring for people with his love of science. 

Schrock attended Carroll for his pre-medical education and pitched on the baseball team all four years. After graduating from Carroll in 1965, he attended medical school in Chicago at Northwestern University from 1965 through 1969. The first two years were extremely difficult, but his last two clinical years were enjoyable as he began to realize his goal of becoming a physician. However, meanwhile, those two years in 1968 and 1969 were very turbulent in Chicago with racial unrest and Vietnam protests.

After school and post graduate training, he was drafted into the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon and sent to Duluth, Minnesota. He always wanted to live “Up North,” as his family spent two to three weeks every summer in northern Wisconsin. The Air Force piqued his interest in flying. Flying single engine airplanes became a big part of his life and enjoyed sharing it with other people. He also enjoyed spending time with his dogs and horses, in his garden, camping, fishing, and running marathons.

Schrock’s medical practice as an emergency physician began in Duluth at St. Luke’s Hospital from 1973 until 2000. It was a very satisfying career being able to help people in a crisis. In 2000, he transitioned to Urgent Care at St. Mary’s Duluth Clinic. Although it was less exciting, his hours no longer included night shifts. Being named Medical Director of Gold Cross/Mayo Ambulance from 1978 through 2016 was satisfying work as he was able to teach, test, and perform quality assurance. He retired from practicing medicine in 2016.

Schrock lives in Brule in the country with his wife, Mary. He has two boys, and she has three boys in their extended family, and now they have eight grandchildren. They have nurtured an interest in philanthropy, especially in the areas of scholarship and helping the people of Honduras through their non-profit. His hope for the future is to stay healthy and live long enough to be useful. (And keep playing the trumpet!)