Inspira Physician Pays it Forward

A generous gift helped Dr. James Baird, IV achieve his dream of becoming an Emergency Medicine physician. Today, as the program director of the Emergency Medicine Residency program at Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill, he teaches, mentors and encourages the next generation of ER physicians who will care for our community.

Dr. Baird’s pursuit of a medical career was made possible through a gift from a generous philanthropist named John Palmer Osterman. He influenced and motivated people around him to be energetic, enthusiastic about life, and to strive to be better. JPO, as he liked to be called, invested in people, especially those he felt who deserved a chance to have their dreams accelerated. He saw something special in Dr. Baird and supported him in pursuit of his dream to become an Emergency Medicine Physician.

The generous support Dr. Baird received to fund his medical education inspired his passion for paying it forward. This experience, and his intimate knowledge of the health challenges our community faces, has motivated him to generously support Inspira Health Foundation and the All Heart Campaign. 

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, killing one American every 33 seconds according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "I am supporting this campaign for the community members that we serve every day, whether in our hospitals or in Inspira Health’s outpatient facilities. Treating those with cardiovascular disease and identifying those with risk factors will help them live longer, healthier lives so they can spend more time with those they love. What could be more important than that?”

A plaque bearing the name John P. Osterman, and recognizing Dr. Baird’s generosity, now hangs outside a resuscitation room in the Emergency Department at Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill. “Every day I come to work, it will be a reminder of the gift that was given to me, my responsibility to pay it forward, and my personal gratitude for God putting a man like John P. Osterman in my life,” said Dr. Baird.

“As physicians, we can touch lives on an individual basis, day in and day out. When we support Inspira Health Foundation, our ability to help people and touch lives is countless and boundless. I encourage all of my colleagues, friends, co-workers and anyone who wants to create healthier communities in South Jersey, to give back by supporting Inspira Health Foundation.”