Natchez — As a tribute to their father’s 80th birthday, siblings Steven Stern, David Stern and Sandra Brackenridge wanted to establish a legacy to the medical center they say helped provide Dr. Charles Stern his identity as a medical professional. It was in 1959 when a young Dr. Charles Stern opened his practice of ophthalmology in Natchez, a thriving practice he would continue until his retirement in 2000.

Natchez Regional Medical Center is proud to accept a generous donation from Stern’s children, using the money to renovate and update an area that was an enjoyable part of their father’s daily practice — the surgeon’s lounge located on the second floor of the hospital.

The lounge provided a great gathering place for the physicians to get together in the early mornings before their day officially began.

“We would drink coffee and solve the world’s problems when we weren’t busy talking golf or football,” said Dr. Bruce Kuehnle.

Doug Smith is another local physician who remembers Dr. Stern fondly.

“He was a major part of my decision to become an ophthalmologist, and he welcomed me with open arms. He was a great mentor for me as a young ophthalmologist, and he always impressed me with his love of Natchez and the community he served,” Smith said.

“Dr. Stern was a major part of the medical community in Natchez for four decades, and it is only fitting that his name be permanently placed outside the surgeon’s lounge at our hospital” said Lana Morgan, senior vice president and chief operations officer at Natchez Regional. “We deeply appreciate the generosity of the Stern family, and the newly renovated lounge has received great reviews.”

said Morgan. Dan Bland, Chairman of the hospital’s Board of Trustees, said, “It is our hope that the Charles Stern M.D. Surgeon’s Lounge will be a gathering place for many great minds and friends and colleagues to relax and unwind for years to come, just as Dr. Stern and his colleagues did for so many years.

According to Steven Stern, “My siblings and I recognize that Natchez Regional Medical Center, and in particular the medical community of Natchez, is a very large part of who Dr. Stern is today. While he gave this community and Natchez Regional years of service, it provided him his identity as a medical professional that he proudly carries with him to this day.”

Dr. Stern currently resides in Dallas, Texas. In his usual modest fashion, he said he was surprised his children chose to honor him in such a special way, as there are many other surgeons who deserve the same recognition. He added, “If Doctors Godfrey, Tillman, Kuehnle, et al are still frequenters of the doctor’s lounge, please tell them hello and I miss the morning sessions in the lounge.”