Dr. Bernard Patrick

Bernard S. Patrick, M.D.

Jackson

Bernard S. Patrick, a fourth-generation physician, was born in Booneville, Mississippi, February 16, 1927, grew up in Corinth, Mississippi, and graduated from Corinth High School in 1944 as the top student in his class. He was an all-conference end on the Corinth football team and student band director. He attended Tulane University and then the University of Mississippi Medical School for 2 years. He was a Sigma Chi and also founder of Alpha Kappa Kappa Medical Fraternity chapter at Ole Miss. He was also the Drum Major of the Ole Miss Marching Band. He was elected into Pi Kappa Epsilon scholastic honorary fraternity at the University of Illinois where he graduated with a medical degree in 1950.

Dr. Patrick served 2 years in the U.S. Airforce as a flight surgeon during the Korean War and after that he completed his residency in neurosurgery at the Illinois Neuropsychiatric Institute of the University of Illinois in 1957. He then moved to Memphis, Tennessee and started practice as part of the Semmes, Murphy Neurological group. He later went into solo private practice in Memphis until he moved to Jackson, Mississippi to join the faculty at the University Medical Center. There he taught for 10 years as a professor of Neurosurgery. He has published 34 papers, with interest primarily in cranial tumors, diagnosis in disc disease, and treatment of pain, particularly facial pain, including tic douloureux. Dr. Patrick introduced the Anterior Approach for Cervical Discectomy in the mid-south in 1962, which has become the standard operation for ruptured cervical discs.

After 10 years at UMC, Dr. Patrick returned to private practice at St. Dominic's Hospital for 24 years during which time he developed his sub-specialty of Facial Pain Management.

He belonged to many medical organizations and was the President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, a national and international organization. He was also awarded the "Distinguished Neurosurgeon" award from the Southern Neurosurgical Society in 2005 at the age of 78 and the "Outstanding Neurosurgeon" by the Mississippi Neurosurgical Society as the First Lifetime Member.

Dr. Patrick served on many Jackson area boards including the Mississippi Symphony Board and was President of River Hills Club.

As his grandchildren say, "He was an author, composer, musician, aviator, sailor, athlete, chess master, car mechanic and retired surgeon."

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jo Irene Kurns, his 4 daughters Karen Orsini, Kim Gerra (Mike), Kris Mink (Rob), Kathy Morgan (Mike) and 10 grand children and 1 great-grandchild, Jennifer Lewis, Megan Mink, Robby Mink, Lauren Orsini, Patrick Mink, Rachel Farrow, Michael Morgan, Gage Morgan, Robert Gerra, Ria Gerra, and Dominic Mink.

A service celebrating Dr. Patrick's life will be held at St. Columb's Episcopal Church in Ridgeland, MS with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the service following at 12:00 noon Saturday, September 28th.

The family requests any memorials be made to the Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) 201 E. Pascagoula St., Jackson, MS or any charity of your choice.