Doug Strott is a native of Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Baldwin High School. Doug graduated from the University of Pittsburgh (Johnstown, PA) with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics/Finance and International Studies. Doug’s professional career spanned over 25 years in financial services with organizations including Mellon Bank, Bank One, Bear Stearns, and Dimensional Fund Advisors.

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Doug was diagnosed with Scheuermann’s in 1981 at the age of 17 and spent nearly 2 years in a Milwaukee brace. Unfortunately, the long-term secondary effects of Scheuermann’s forced Doug into disability retirement at the age of 46.

 

Doug endured multiple spinal fusion surgeries (5 fusion surgeries in a 3 year period) to address associated secondary health problems from Scheuermann’s. During this time, he searched the internet for information about Scheuermann’s but was shocked at the lack of available research! So, he decided to start a blog that included the little research that was available and his personal experiences with Scheuermann’s. It didn’t take long before he was inundated with questions from others who were experiencing the same problems with Scheuermann’s: few articles, little research, lack of support from the medical community. He realized that there was a significant need for a single location where people could learn about Scheuermann’s and this was the first step in the development of the charity.

 

Later, Doug joined forces with The Pittsburgh Foundation to create a charitable fund that eventually evolved into “The Scheuermann’s Disease Fund”, the first solely dedicated to help those affected by this spinal disease. It was founded for one purpose, to help those affected by Scheuermann's and its long-term effects.