Walter J. Bristow, Sr., M.D.

Opthalmology and Otolaryngology

Walter J. Bristow Sr., M.D., was selected as the first Chief of Staff when Providence Hospital opened in 1938. Dr. Bristow, inducted posthumously, is a strong figure in the medical field and to South Carolina. Born in Darlington in 1891, he received his medical degree from the Medical College of South Carolina and completed his residency at The Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. Commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Medical Reserve, he served overseas duty during World War I, resigning his commission in 1922 as a Lieutenant Colonel. For most of his career, he saw patients at his office in Historic Chestnut Cottage on Hampton Street . His was referred to as a leader in the medical field and many have expressed high admiration for his legacy of work and commitment to Providence patients.