David R. Schmidt, MD​

David R. Schmidt came from humble beginnings, working on his family ranch in Harper, Texas. His dreams of working in medicine began in high school, when he played six-man football for Harper High School. After graduating, he attended the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he completed his residency in orthopedic surgery. He then completed fellowships in knee surgery and sports medicine in Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand. Upon his return to San Antonio in the mid-1980s, he joined the practice of Dr. Jack Henry, who had served as the Spurs’ team doctor for 17 years. In 1993, Schmidt was named the team doctor for the Spurs, where he found immediate success.​

Schmidt worked as a physician for the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival, the 1995 World University Games, and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Schmidt is president of the NBA Physicians Association and was the NBA Physician of the Year in 2004. He also serves as the team physician for the University of Texas at San Antonio, Trinity University athletes, and numerous San Antonio-area high schools.​

Schmidt has spent his nearly four decades in practice giving back to the community. He has helped thousands of people across South Texas through surgeries, rehabilitation, and volunteer work. In 2004, he opened Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio, serving athletes and schools throughout the city. He requires each one of the doctors in his practice to donate their time once a week during high school football season to caring for athletes from the sidelines. He also oversees an outreach program hiring athletic trainers to cover high school football games in much of South Texas.​