Doctor’s love of community inspires author to write children’s book

Dr. George Skarpathiotis and Stephanie Ryan sign copies of Ryan’s book “The Story of Dr. George.”

By Kelly White 

Dr. George Skarpathiotis took his philosophy of care and love for the community and turned it into a beautiful pediatric practice. 

A practice founded on the principles of family centered care, Dr. George Kids, with offices located in the heart of Palos Heights, 7110 W. 127th Street; in Chicago, 8537 S. Cicero Avenue; and New Lenox, 400 E. Lincoln Highway, goes the extra mile to not only treat sick children but to educate families on the importance of living a healthy life style.   

He retired from his clinical practice and his second home after 33 years in 2020.  

Dr. George Skarpathiotis was given “The Story of Dr. George” during a company Christmas party on December 3.

“Dr. George’s love for his patients and their families has been inspiring and unmatched,” Stephanie Ryan, Registered Nurse, said. “He has created a beautiful tradition that has impacted many – one that is shared by past, present, and future patients.” 

Ryan, who obtained her BSN in nursing worked for Skarpathiotis for three years. Her time at the office inspired her to write and publish her very first children’s book, dedicated in honor of the local pediatrician. 

“In my short time at the office, I felt like I was part of the family from day one,” Ryan said. “Dr. George set a standard of care that has been inspiring. He has dedicated so much into starting and growing this practice. He did it all from scratch. He is incredibly hard working and determined. Getting to work in that environment is contagious and it pushes you to want to live up to these standards. And I am so honored and proud to be part of this family.” 

Her book, The Story of Dr. George, was written about and inspired by Skarpathiotis, who spent many years serving his community.   

To children, Skarpathiotis was the funny doctor with the musical, light-up ties and a pocket full of magic tricks. Well known for his signature catch phrases, he would say and do anything to make a child laugh.  

To parents, Skarpathiotis was the compassionate physician who gave endless hours treating sick children while simultaneously going to great lengths to provide reassurance to all. Most notably, he would keep his doors open until every sick child was cared for. 

The book is the story of a typical visit with Skarpathiotis. It highlights his quirky mannerisms and his kind and reassuring characteristics. The entire book reads like a childhood memory for those who know him.  

“It was the best way I could think of to honor and celebrate his career and lifelong dedication to treating sick children,” Ryan said. 

Ryan, who has been drawing since early childhood, said she loved writing this book. 

“I vividly remember telling my parents one day I wanted to write and illustrate children’s books,” Ryan said. “They have always supported me in all of my endeavors. I grew up believing in myself because of how much my parents believe in me. So, creating this book was truly a dream come true. The best part is every night when my daughter asks me and my husband to read ‘the Dr. George book by mommy’. I hope she grows up the same way I did, thinking you can do anything you put your mind to.” 

The Story of Dr. George began in January of 2023. The partners of the practice, Dr. Zoe Alikakos and Dr. Stratos Skarpathiotis (Dr George’s son who is now a partner at the practice) wanted to do something really special to celebrate the clinical retirement of Skarpathiotis.  

“We were throwing around ideas and we came up with the idea of a children’s book as a way to honor Dr. George. Dr. Zoe and Dr. Stratos encouraged my creative process and we’re so incredibly supportive,” Ryan said. “The story essentially wrote itself. I remember the next morning telling my husband that I wrote a book about Dr. George. He read it and instantly told me it was very special.  Dr. George has a genuine kindness and unique mannerisms that make him a truly special doctor. The illustrations took me a few months to complete. I studied a lot of photos of Dr. George and his son, Dr. Stratos, did a lot of re-enactments so I could really get the full picture.” 

Ryan presented Skarpathiotis with the book at the office Christmas party on December 3 at the Palos Country Club in Orland Park.  

“The book was a surprise to everyone, including Dr. George, himself,” Ryan said. “We wanted to release the book first to all of our families. We wanted the moment to be intimate and special. It truly was, there was not a dry eye in the room.” 

Skarpathiotis was born in Istanbul as a Greek citizen in a Turkish country. At the age of 18, during a transfer of citizens, he was deported from Turkey and forced to emigrate to Athens where he had to take the Greek entrance exam to college. After an arduous year, he finally took the entrance exam and managed to qualify and successfully get into medical school. He completed school in 1975 and began his 3-year medical internship on the island of Santorini.  

He met his future wife during his internship and after returning to Athens to start his residency in surgery in 1979, his now wife was accepted into the University of Illinois in Champaign, for a masters in architecture so the couple decided to get married and move to Illinois together in 1980.  

Skarpathiotis left his final year of residency in surgery in Athens behind and began studying for the language exam to qualify for United States surgical residency. It took two years to pass the language boards in America, and unfortunately by the time he was eligible to join a residency, surgery was completely filled in Illinois. The only other residency he could imagine himself doing was pediatrics so he applied and was accepted to Rush Memorial’s residency at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. He finally completed residency in 1987, and that was the year he opened his first practice location in the physician office building of Christ hospital.  

After the practice grew and he opened a second location, he finally bought a house and moved to Burr Ridge where he still lives. He has three sons, the middle one has followed in his footsteps in the practice.  

Ryan’s children’s book is a combination of a 33-year-long career. 

“I was speechless and deeply moved by the effort and thought that went into the book,” Skarpathiotis said. “It beautifully captures the spirit of what I tried to bring to his practice for so many years.”  

Skarpathiotis is excited to share it with his own grandson, but above all, what he loves most about this book, is that it allows him to share a special experience forever with his past, present, and future patients. He hopes it can bring some joy to the lives of all the families in his practice.  

“I rate the happiness and good health I was able to bring to his community as the greatest achievement of my life,” he said.