[9] While at Wisconsin, he obtained a research position in the laboratory of Dr. Joseph Lalich, Professor of Pathology, investigating renal disorders.
[9] They would go on to have three sons: Richard Earl Schwartz, Aviation Operations Director, Enterprise; Kenneth Schwartz (FAIA Fellow American Institute of Architecture) Favrot Professor and Dean Tulane School of Architecture, Michael Sacks Chair in Civic Engagement and Social Engagement, Director, Phyllis Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking; David Schwartz, Associate Professor of Cardiology Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
[12] Ruth Schwartz, M.D., attended Wisconsin Medical School and later completed her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/Gyn) at Genesee Hospital in Rochester, New York.
[14] Schwartz matriculated at Syracuse University College of Medicine in 1946, where he continued his research endeavors in the lab of renal physiologist and Chair of the Department of Physiology, Dr. Robert Pitts.
Schwartz stated that the following morning, Dr. Van Waggenen "verbally lacerated me for having the effrontery to call a professor in the middle of the night rather than contacting his chief resident."
Upon successful completion of his internship, he matriculated as an assistant resident in surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital.
In 1951, as a consequence of the doctors' draft enacted during the Korean War,[18] Schwartz joined the United States Navy, leaving Rochester as Lieutenant Junior Grade.
Fortunately, one week later, he was notified that the resident allocated to that position had decided to pursue a career in Obstetrics and gynaecology, and he would be allowed to return.
[19] Subsequent investigations into the drug's pharmacology and effectiveness would solidify the foundation of his experience as a surgical scientist.
[16] In 1959, he founded the Surgical Residents' Conference, which persists today as an annual event incorporated in the meeting of the Society for Academic Surgeons.
In 1987, he was appointed Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Rochester, a position he held until his retirement from clinical medicine in 1998.
In 2005, he was appointed provost of American University of Antigua College of Medicine and received a medal from King Juan Carlos of Spain for contributions to surgery.
In 1965, McGraw Hill Publishing Company approached six surgeons to write and edit a comprehensive textbook in surgery.
At the time, Schwartz was known to McGraw Hill because of his recent publication, a textbook entitled, Surgical Diseases of the Liver.
[4] The early 1980s was also a period when he developed an increasing expertise in cartography beginning with his authorship of the book titled The Mapping of America.
[27] Schwartz's fascination with history has led him to research and write on a number of historical topics beginning with the 1995 publication of The French and Indian War, 1754 – 1763, and The Imperial Struggle for North America.
[6] In 2009, he authored a manuscript on the contributions of American surgeons to the field of surgery in his book entitled, Gifted Hands.
[4] He remained an active member of the surgical community in Rochester[4] and regularly attended Grand Round lectures.