Newberry County Memorial Hospital Unveils Portrait Honoring Late Surgeon Dr. John Brown

Newberry County Memorial Hospital Honors Dr. John Brown with Portrait Dedication

Newberry

— The corridors of Newberry County Memorial Hospital (NCMH) have a new addition gracing their walls. Last week, the hospital held a ceremony to unveil and dedicate a portrait of the late Dr. John Brown, who passed away in 2021. The pandemic had previously prevented the hospital from properly honoring the years of valuable service Dr. Brown provided to the community.

Dr. Brown, fondly remembered as an exceptional practitioner, graduated from Clemson University and Duke Medical School. After serving in the United States Navy during the Cuban Crisis, he completed an internship and was board certified in General Vascular and Thoracic Surgery at MUSC in Charleston.

In 1970, Dr. Brown joined Palmetto Surgical Associates in Columbia, one of the oldest general surgery practices in the state. His career took a significant turn in 1982 when he completed a four-month cardiovascular fellowship at the Houston Heart Institute. This prepared him for a leadership role in initiating the open-heart program at Richland Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Brown returned to Newberry in 2001, opening his private practice before joining NCMH, where he filled a crucial void, as no other surgeons were serving the community at the time. He continued to expand his skills, adding training in wound care and hyperbaric medicine to his services. His selflessness was evident as he provided free medical services to clinics in Columbia, Laurens, and Newberry and participated in a medical mission to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.

His outstanding contributions were recognized in 2011 when he received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, from then-Governor Nikki Haley.

“John loved his job in Columbia, but he was glad to come back to Newberry and to Newberry Hospital. The hospital was just so supportive of the care he wanted to give the community,” said his wife, Susandale Cauble Brown.

Anna Brown Applegate, Dr. Brown’s youngest daughter, shared her thoughts during the ceremony. “My dad wasn’t just my dad, he was a hero,” she remarked. “As hospital staff and members of the community pass my father’s portrait, I hope they always remember his laugh, wisdom, and the love he gave to everyone he met and pass that love on.”

Among those reflecting on Dr. Brown’s legacy was Corey Brown, the surgery director at NCMH. “I think there’s many, many stories that a lot of us can tell… Dr. Brown was many things to many people. He was a proud citizen of Newberry, quite comedic at times, but more than anything, he absolutely loved what he did. We loved that man just as much as Susandale did. He was a teacher, a father figure, and a phenomenal surgeon with a reputation that will hold here for a very long time.”

Dr. John Thompson, who worked alongside Dr. Brown, added, “When I first came to Newberry in 1978, if we had a case that needed a surgeon we could depend on and trust, it would usually be Dr. Brown… I thought a lot of him and still remember him often.”

NCMH Chief Executive Officer John Snow concluded the ceremony by thanking the family and attendees. “I didn’t know Dr. Brown as he served before I arrived, but his work has certainly set the stage for many individuals to come,” he said.

Overall, the ceremony served as a heartfelt tribute to a dedicated surgeon whose impact and memory will continue to resonate within the Newberry community for years to come.