NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Jill E. McCormick, Director, Marketing & Planning
St. Edward Mercy Health System
Phone: 479-314-6037
Email: jill.mccormick@mercy.net

St. Edward Mercy Hosts Naming Ceremony for Hospice Inpatient Unit

Fort Smith, Ark. – April 16, 2009 - St. Edward Mercy Medical Center will host a naming ceremony for the Hospice Inpatient Unit on Tuesday, April 21 at 1 p.m. in The Hennessy Center. The Unit will be named for Dr. John Ben and Sue Stewart.

Dr. Stewart was a general practice physician who had privileges at St. Edward Mercy beginning in 1946. Dr. Stewart was born in Greenwood, Ark. on April 21, 1916. He attended Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway, Ark. and graduated from the University of Arkansas Medical School in 1940.

Dr. Stewart completed a rotating internship at St. Paul’s Hospital in Dallas, Texas, and completed 10 months of a general surgery residency at Methodist Hospital in Dallas before being drafted into the United States Army. He was a flight surgeon for the 73rd Fighter Group, 318th Squadron and served in the Pacific. Upon returning home from his service in the Army, he had earned the rank of major and received a Bronze Star.

Dr. Stewart was a member of the Sebastian County Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Arkansas Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Southern Medical Society.

Sue was raised on a farm in Van Buren, Ark. and graduated from nursing school at St. Edward. Sue was an avid golfer and enjoyed riding her horses. Together, John Ben and Sue raised three children: Stacie, Anne and John Ben Jr. (Jeb).

The Stewarts were pillars in the Fort Smith community and were true supporters of their community throughout the years. The Hospice Inpatient Unit has been named in their honor through an anonymous donation.