Dr. William Nemeth RIP

Dr. William Nemeth RIP

I am deeply saddened to comment on the passing of Dr. William Nemeth. Bill was an outstanding human being, and his loss will be felt in many areas of our lives and our profession.

Bill was an orthopedic surgeon, an addiction specialist, and one of our most valued physician reviewers. He helped reform the Texas workers’ compensation system and built a functional rehabilitation program in Austin that has become a model for us to follow. He was also an All-American football player (center) at the University of Arizona, team physician for college and professional teams alike, and a frequent speaker at many workers’ compensation conferences. It was there that Rosalie and I first met him.

Bill presented at a SAWCA meeting in St. Petersburg a number of years ago. I was stunned by his knowledge of workers’ comp medicine, his intellect, and his common sense. Rosalie and I followed him (stalked might be a better word) to the IAIABC meeting in Philadelphia and greatly enjoyed his presentation with his co-presenter, Dr. Suzanne Novak, his wife.

They both came to Louisville in 2006 to speak at our first conference on “Pain, Drugs and the Crisis in Workers’ Compensation,” and we visited them in Austin whenever our traveling schedule came close. We enjoyed seeing them frequently at workers’ comp events and would plan our schedules accordingly. What a funny, brilliant couple to be around!

Our greatest sympathies and, truly, our thoughts and prayers go out to Suzanne, Katherine and the entire Nemeth family upon this profound loss.

Bill Faris

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