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Eric S. Stem, M.D. aspired to be a physician from a very young age. Born and raised in Eastern North Carolina as the second of four children, Eric gained an appreciation for the art of medicine from his grandfather, a general practitioner who spent his life serving a small rural community as their country doctor. By the time Eric turned twelve, he knew that some day, he too would be a doctor, aiming to serve his community.
He excelled in his primary education and was accepted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he completed his undergraduate degree in 1989, with a double major in Biology and Chemistry. Later that year he was accepted into The University of North Carolina School of Medicine where he completed his medical degree in 1993. During his medical school years he served his community through AIDS outreach and middle and high school guidance programs. By the end of his third year of medical school, he recognized orthopaedics as his calling, and endeavored to complete his training in the Orthopaedic specialty.
Having entered medical school with an Air Force Scholarship, upon completion of his doctorate, he entered active duty as a captain in the US Air Force. Stationed at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, he completed his general surgery internship in 1994 and was then assigned as a flight surgeon to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. As a Flight Surgeon, Dr. Stem was responsible for the flight health of the C-5, C-141, KC-135, and C-17 flight crews, as well as the general healthcare of their families. While stationed at Altus AFB, Eric certified as a private pilot and served as assistant troop leader for the Boy Scouts of America. As an Eagle Scout, Eric continues to appreciate the joy of scouting and aims to serve the Coastal Carolina Council as his son enters scouting.
After completing his active duty Air Force obligation in 1997, he was accepted into the Fort Wayne Orthopaedic Residency Training Program in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Upon completion of this program in 2002, he was accepted into an Adult Reconstruction fellowship at the Mayo Clinic of Jacksonville, FL. Aiming to sub-specialize in total joint replacements and revisions, Eric focused his research in adult reconstruction and subsequently was published in The Journal of Arthroplasty. His research has also been acknowledged by his peers through multiple lectures given at regional, national and international orthopaedic meetings.
Having lived in the South, Midwest, and Northern regions of this great country, Dr. Stem gained a greater appreciation for the meaning of being an American. While stationed in Oklahoma in 1995, the Murrah Federal Building was bombed, and 168 Americans lost their lives. Having seen the devastation in Oklahoma, and later in 2001 watching the horror of September 11th, he felt the calling to return to the Carolinas and again be within reach of home. In 2003, after completing his fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Adult Reconstruction, Dr. Stem accepted an offer to join South Carolina Sports Medicine in North Charleston, SC as their Total Joint sub-specialist. Later that year he and his family moved to Summerville, SC. Eric enjoys hunting, camping, playing guitar, and woodworking. He also enjoys the occasional recreational basketball game at their church where he serves on the Missions Committee which focuses on local, regional and global outreach. Eric continues to serve his country as a reservist in the US Air Force.
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