Bertram M. Bernstein; retired medical director of the New Jersey Department of Human Services
Hyfler/Rosner
By Sally A. Downey
Inquirer Staff Writer
Mon, Feb. 19, 2007
Dr. Bertram M. Bernstein, 91, formerly of Trenton, retired
medical director of the New Jersey Department of Human
Services and professor of physical and rehabilitation
medicine at Hahnemann University, died of Parkinson's
disease Tuesday at his son's home in Hackensack, N.J.
Dr. Bernstein served as medical director from 1951 until
retiring in 1984.
While in that position he was also consultant in physical
medicine at Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, N.J.;
founding chairman of the physical medicine and
rehabilitation department at the former McKinley Hospital in
Trenton; director of restorative services at Donnelly
Hospital in Trenton; medical director of United Cerebral
Palsy of Middlesex County; medical director of the Delaware
Valley Rehabilitation Center in Trenton; and a faculty
member for more than 20 years at Hahnemann University
Medical School.
He had a particular interest in medical-insurance issues,
his son, Richard, a physician and health-care consultant,
said. In 1970, Dr. Bernstein initiated New Jersey's Medicaid
program to provide state- and federally funded medical
insurance to low-income individuals and families.
A native of West Philadelphia, Dr. Bernstein graduated from
Trenton Central High School. He earned a bachelor's degree
from the University of Pennsylvania and a medical degree
from Hahnemann University.
During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps as a
flight surgeon at bases in the United States. His experience
treating wounded veterans who required rehabilitation
influenced his choice of a medical specialty, his son said.
Dr. Bernstein completed a residency in physical medicine and
rehabilitation at Bellevue Hospital in New York. He also
completed a National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis
fellowship at Warm Spring, Ga., and did graduate work at the
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and at Cook County Graduate
School of Medicine in Chicago.
After he retired, Dr. Bernstein and his wife, Evelyn "Hinda"
Weinstein Bernstein, lived in Sarasota, Fla. He enjoyed
swimming and listening to classical music.
In addition to his son, Dr Bernstein is survived by a
daughter, Carol Soble; a sister; five grandchildren; eight
great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. His wife
of 47 years died in 1988.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Orland's
Ewing Memorial Chapel, 1534 Pennington Rd., Trenton.
Donations may be made to Capital Health System Foundation,
408 Bellevue Ave., Trenton, N.J. 08618.