Stephen Pearce, M.D., Honored with Physician Legacy Award
CHICO, Calif., Feb. 27, 2023 – A gastroenterologist for over 40 years, Stephen Pearce, M.D., was recently named the Physician Legacy Award Recipient for 2022. He practiced at a local digestive health clinic that continues to thrive today, and he helped build Enloe’s gastroenterology services. Dr. Pearce’s work contributed to the national recognition of gastrointestinal care at Enloe.
Annually, physicians, hospital employees and volunteers, and community members make nominations for the Physician Legacy Award. Enloe’s Medical Executive Committee reviews them and selects the winner.
“His competence is unquestionable, but it’s his kindness, compassion, and dedication to his patients and his community that sets him apart,” said neurosurgeon Jeffrey Lobosky, M.D., who presented the award to Dr. Pearce on Dec. 13. Dr. Lobosky touted the doctor’s leadership, diplomacy and wisdom.
One nomination described the way Dr. Pearce interacts with his staff and patients as “the gold standard,” and another appreciated his willingness to teach new nurses and techs about procedures in colonoscopies.
On Sept. 30, 2022, Dr. Pearce retired from a physician practice he joined in 1981. He now works part time as a hospital-based gastroenterologist at Enloe Medical Center. The physician practice, known as Digestive Diseases Associates, was started by Brian Boswell, M.D., in 1980, and became Enloe Digestive Diseases in the 2010s.
For Dr. Pearce, one of the most rewarding aspects of his career was helping build Enloe’s GI department with Enloe staff and other local gastroenterologists. This included growing Enloe’s GI Lab in the mid-1980s and the Endoscopy Clinic in the early 1990s. Together they expanded services from basic GI procedures to more complex offerings, helping locals access needed services closer to home.
In 2022, Enloe was named by Healthgrades as among America’s 100 Best Hospitals for both Gastrointestinal Care and Gastrointestinal Surgery.
Dr. Pearce’s leadership roles at Enloe included chair of the GI department, Chief of Staff from 1991-1993, and member of the Board of Trustees from 1993-1997 and 2006-2011. He served as secretary of the board from 2010-2011 and was a member of its Quality Committee from 2006-2011.
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dr. Pearce grew up in the Chicago area. After high school, he moved to California to attend University of California, Davis, where he decided to pursue a career in medicine. He earned his medical degree from Loyola University of Chicago – Stritch School of Medicine, and completed his residency at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Illinois. Dr. Pearce is board certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine.
“I’ve really enjoyed this time. It’s been a lot of hard work but a lot of fun,” he said. In his semi-retirement, Dr. Pearce looks forward to traveling with his wife and spending time with his grandchildren.
Past recipients include Peter Wolk, M.D. (2021), Charles Merriman, M.D., (2020), Marcia Nelson, M.D. (2019), Scott Mellum, M.D. (2018), Denis Westphal, M.D. (2017), Peter Magnusson, M.D. (2016) and Patrick Tedford, M.D. (2015). For the complete list dating back to 2004, visit www.enloe.org/legacy.
