Dr. James A. “Jim” Stanko with Galen Medical Group is retiring after 48 years of practicing in Chattanooga.

Dr. Stanko was recruited by Red Bank Community Hospital in the summer of 1978 and opened a solo practice. Dr. Stanko became good friends with Dr. Walter D. Parkhurst who had also been recruited by the hospital.

Dr. Stanko and Dr. Parkhurst formed North Chattanooga Medical Associates in 1981 and soon several other doctors joined the practice including Dr. Wayne T. Scott and Sue Strother, nurse practitioner.

The doctors joined the Galen Medical Group in December, 1993. The practice eventually relocated from Erlanger North to the Memorial Physician’s Office Building in Hixson.

In 2019, Galen moved into the former Service Merchandise Building near Northgate. Dr. Stanko was among the doctors who moved into the building which also houses Galen’s administrative offices.

Dr. Stanko graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School, Toronto Ontario, Canada, where he earned his M.D.

He holds dual citizenship in both Canada and the United States. Dr. Stanko was proud to become a United States citizen while his son Jimmy was serving in the Marine Corps.

Dr. Stanko is married to the former Jan Williams and the couple has three children and four grandchildren.

He was active in his community serving as one of the Red Bank High School football team physicians.

Mrs. Strother said, “Dr. Stanko helped me grow as an NP with his guidance and willingness to share his knowledge.”

Retired Galen North Site Supervisor Julie Freudenberg worked with Dr. Stanko for 40 years. Mrs. Freudenberg said, “Sometimes it’s hard to read doctors’ handwriting but not Dr. Stanko’s; he had the most beautiful handwriting of any doctor I’ve seen. I recall once receiving a call from a pharmacist disputing a script thinking it was a possible forgery because the handwriting was so legible.”

Dr. Stanko holds a special affinity for his pets. In 1996, Dr. and Mrs. Stanko and their son Warren were featured on the front page of the Chattanooga News Free Press with their family of pets.

The Stanko family reside on Signal Mountain where they are active at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church.

When asked what he planned to do in his retirement Dr. Stanko replied, “The new Erlanger Park is gorgeous; Jan and I want to attend more Lookouts Games.”