Dr. James W. “Jim” Bernard has announced his retirement this month after 63 years of service to family, friends, and area residents of Caruthersville and the surrounding area.
A graduate from Caruthersville High School, Jim Bernard made the decision to enroll early at Southwestern of Memphis, Tennessee at the age of sixteen. While at Southwestern, Jim met his wife, the late Evelyn L. “Rita” Bernard. After graduating from Southwestern, Dr. Bernard attended Washington University in St. Louis. Returning to Caruthersville, Dr. Bernard worked on farms, loading, and weighing cotton, and was soon accepted to medical school at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. After graduating, Dr. Bernard moved to Philadelphia, PA for his internship and post graduate studies.
Following Dr. Bernard’s internship, he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Hawaii. Dr. Bernard’s division was immediately sent to sea, tracking Russian activity. Later he was stationed at Pensacola for academics and aviation medicine, then to San Diego. After two tours with the Navy, Dr. Bernard moved back to Caruthersville.
After returning, the late Doctors Gubin, McKaskle, and McCoy asked Dr. Bernard to join the Doctor’s Clinic. Dr. Bernard also served the Pemiscot Memorial ER.
“While I will miss serving and providing care for family and friends, I will miss working with my office family as much or more,” Dr. Bernard said.
Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems purchased the Doctor’s Clinic in 1998, and Dr. Bernard has faithfully and expertly served PMHS ever since. He has been a great asset to his community and to Pemiscot Memorial during his six decades of service.
“Dr. Bernard is an icon to this community, and we will miss his expertise as a doctor, teacher, and friend,” staff members of the Doctor’s Clinic said. “We have enjoyed working with him all these years. He is truly a wonderful, humble man. We love him and will miss him.”