Dr. Jerome Stern, a retired Senior Medical Officer from the Andrews Memorial Hospital (AMH), was conferred with the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service during a Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards at the National Indoor Sports Complex on Heroes Day, October 21, 2024.
The Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen, bestowed the award on Dr. Stern, who served his country for 46 years in public and private healthcare medicine. He was among 232 Jamaicans who were officially recognized for their contributions to nation-building.
“This award is more than I expected. I see myself working under the Great Physician’s guidance and honoring Him; I give my best. So, I give God the glory for all that He has done. I also thank the Government of Jamaica for this award, the AMH, my church, and my family for their support and prayers,” said Stern.
Dr. Stern, who operates his private practice at the AMH Physician’s Office, reflected on his journey.
Educational Years
His educational journey began at St. Margaret’s Preparatory School. It continued at a Seventh-day Adventist Preparatory School in Claremont, St. Ann. After leaving Wolmer’s High School for Boys, he completed the Pre-Med and Medical courses at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, in 1972.
The Start of His Medical Career
Jerome completed his internship at Kingston Public Hospital and the Bustamante Hospital for Children and his residency at St. Ann’s Bay Hospital in St. Ann.
“I recalled that there weren’t enough doctors, so I served as assistant to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Warren Wilson, a renowned surgeon. We were the only two doctors on staff caring for all patients in the then 40-bed hospital, doing surgery, ward rounds, maternity, outpatient, and emergency department,” said Stern.
One night, Dr. Stern received an emergency call; the ambulance driver was drunk and could not pick up a car accident victim. Stern drove the ambulance, picked up the seriously wounded patient, and after that, performed the lifesaving surgery.
Realizing the Medical Missionary Dream
From 1975 to 1977, Jerome was transferred to the Ulster Spring Hospital, now a health clinic in rural Trelawny. He was the Senior Medical doctor and the only one on staff at the 30-bed facility.
He testified, “I saw sixty patients a day and did ward rounds and surgery, including giving anesthetics due to the urgent care needed and remoteness of the hospital. The closest hospital was the Falmouth Hospital, which was 25 miles away.”
Despite his hectic schedule, a focused Jerome still found time to share messages of hope and comfort with his patients and community members. The medical missionary dream rested on his heart.
“I started a branch sabbath school at the outpatient department of the Ulster Spring Hospital. I would conduct Bible classes on Sunday evenings, and this grew to five other locations, one of which was held at a Balmyard (a place where obeah or pocomania rituals are practiced), resulting in the start of the Alps Seventh-day Adventist Church in Trelawny.”
Never Lost a Patient
Having spent nearly fifty years as a medical doctor, Stern recalled operating on hundreds of patients and never losing one. However, he remembered one occasion at the Ulster Spring hospital: “While in surgery, complications developed with a patient, and I couldn’t stop the bleeding. Intuitively, I placed my hand over the area and prayed. The bleeding stopped immediately,” he said.
Cancer Treatment Centre
Dr Marco Brown, Jamaica’s former Minister of Tourism, was instrumental in opening the Fairfield Medical Centre, which saw patients from the United States of America and parts of Europe coming for treatment. With five years under his belt, Stern’s strong work ethic and keen eye for detail landed him sponsorship for a year at the Janker Klinik Hospital in Germany, where he learned to utilize mega-dose vitamins, enzymes, and other natural remedies to treat cancer patients successfully. Eventually, Dr. Stern became the resident doctor at the Fairfield Medical Centre in Montego Bay for three years, treating cancer patients and degenerative diseases.
After a political upheaval led to the closure of the Medical Centre in Fairfield, Stern enlisted at the AMH in 1983 because of the growing need for medical doctors. At one point, he was the only medical doctor on staff. Yet, with insight into his craft and the right spirit, he was promoted in 1990 to Senior Medical Officer and was instrumental in the hospital’s growth and development. Simultaneously, he was appointed Honorary Secretary of Jamaica’s Association of General Practitioners.
National Impact
Stern’s passion for seeing individuals live in optimal health led him to conduct smoking cessation seminars (The Five-Day/Breath Free Plan to Stop Smoking) and the Fresh Start Smoking Cessation Programmes. His wealth of knowledge also led him to become a health presenter with many programmes on radio and television, resulting in the start of ‘Health Watch’ on Television Jamaica. For seven years, Dr. Stern witnessed individuals addicted to smoking stop smoking and improve their lives.
Stern’s Service is Second to None
“Dr. Stern truly deserves this national recognition and award by the Government and people of Jamaica,” said Pastor Everett Brown, the AMH’s Board Chairman.
Brown continued, “The Board of Governors of the AMH and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica salute you as a worthy recipient. Your commitment and dedication to the AMH, the local medical fraternity, and the health sector in Jamaica as a physician are exemplary. Thanks for your long and distinguished service, which is second to none. Your recognition by the Government of Jamaica is a testimony to your humility, selflessness in serving others, and the many decades of unbroken Christian service rendered.”
The President/CEO of AMH, Mr. Donmayne Gyles, said, “The AMH family is proud of you, Dr. Stern. You deserve this honour, as we see in you a faithful, committed, astute doctor who exudes humility in extending Christ’s Healing Ministry to all. You have distinguished yourself in serving your church, the AMH, and your country, and we wish you and your family abundant blessings.”
His wife Barbara, whom he had been married to for 41 years, their daughters Brittany and Jamie, Jamie’s fiancé Paul McNeil, and his two sisters, Elsa Stern Kong and Marigold Naar, were all there to support him.
“I am filled with pride and admiration for Jerome,” Barbara shared. “His kindness, love, and unwavering willingness to help others, combined with his remarkable intellect, have led him on many miraculous and adventurous paths. It is an honor to stand beside him as he achieves so much.”
