Interview by Brenda Dickinson
After graduation from the U-M residency program in 1983, Joseph J. Stemm, M.D., (formerly known as Stempkowski), returned to his home state in Pennsylvania. He spent eight years in private practice and in June of 1992, completed a one-year fellowship in cardiac anesthesia at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He joined the staff at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa., in August of 1992, where he is the director of cardiac anesthesia. He is also president of the Montour County Medical Society.
Geisinger is the largest rural medical center in the country. The 600-bed hospital employs 6,000 people and is the referral center for all of north and central Pennsylvania. Cardiac anesthesiologists on the staff handle 700 cases each year. Stemm was voted teacher of the year by the Geisinger graduating anesthesiology resident class of 1993. He also received an award for outstanding service in 1992 from the Allegheny County Medical Society.
The doctor enjoys playing golf and is active with his seven-year-old son, Christopher, who plays soccer. He met his wife Connie during his fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh where she was a nurse anesthetist. They decided to simplify their name last January.