Scott Erwood

Dr. Scott Clements Erwood, 57, neurosurgeon hailed by his colleagues as the best

Dr. Scott Clements Erwood
By J.E. Geshwiler

As posted in The Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Medical colleagues who watched Dr. Scott Erwood at work in an operating room were apt to say he was the best neurosurgeon they’d ever seen.

Dr. John Keating of Atlanta, an orthopedic surgeon who operated with Erwood on numerous trauma patients, went a step further. “Scott’s not only the best neurosurgeon I’ve ever seen; he’s the best surgeon, period,” Keating said.

“Scott was incredibly sure of himself and backed that up by being as incredibly good at what he did,” Keating said.

Keating called Erwood a giant, both physically (at 6 feet, 6 inches) and in terms of stature within the medical profession.

Dr. Chris Edwards of Atlanta, a spinal surgeon, said Erwood handled some of the most complicated trauma cases ever seen at Grady Memorial Hospital and Atlanta Medical Center.

In each instance, Edwards said, Erwood went about his work mindful of each case’s individual circumstances and never practiced “one-size-fits-all” surgery.

“Scott took his surgical training seriously, but he went beyond that to a level that was masterful,” Edwards said.

Erwood’s longtime surgical nurse, Cindy Juneau of Fairburn, said he was the most talented surgeon she ever saw in her 36 years as a nurse or operating room technician.

“Whether he was dealing with trauma to a patient’s head or spine, he did it without the slightest wasted motion. He worked quickly because he thought ahead and knew exactly what his next step would be,” she said.

Dr. Mark Crispin of Sandy Springs, a plastic surgeon who often worked with Erwood on reconstruction operations for accident victims, said Erwood had a unique intelligence and always did the right thing.

“No matter what his patients’ situations were, Scott would treat them as if they were members of his own family,” Crispin said.

Dr. Scott Clements Erwood, 57, of Atlanta died June 26 of a brain tumor at Peachtree Christian Hospice, Duluth. His funeral will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Dunwoody United Methodist Church. H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Iowa, Erwood received his medical degree at the University of Iowa and his neurosurgical spine training at Emory University Hospital. He served on the staffs of Grady, Atlanta Medical Center and more recently Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

Erwood started coaching Little League baseball at Murphey Candler Park in 1996 when his eldest child was 10 and continued until 2007, when his youngest child was no longer eligible.

One of his fellow coaches, Jerry Glazer of Atlanta, said Erwood taught a multitude of boys and girls — and some coaches, too — about baseball.

“Scott balanced his work schedule and his responsibilities as a father to his five children better than anyone I know,” Glazer said.

Surviving are his wife, Patti Cox Erwood; one daughter, Amalie Erwood of Atlanta; four sons, Matt Erwood of Birmingham, Andy Erwood of Iowa City, Iowa, and Adam Erwood and Eric Erwood, both of Atlanta; a stepdaughter, Mackenzie Cox of Athens; his parents, Sheldon and JoAnn Erwood of Waukee, Iowa; and two brothers, Brent Erwood of Leawood, Kan., and Gregg Erwood of Clive, Iowa.