John H. (John Hinchman) Stokes

Born in 1885, John H. Stokes was a physician and medical writer whose full name was John Hinchman Stokes. He is closely associated with the University of Pennsylvania and is remembered in medicine for his work in dermatology and syphilology.

Stokes wrote both professional and public-facing books, including The Third Great Plague, a book that explained syphilis in plain language for everyday readers. That blend of scientific authority and direct, accessible writing made his work stand out at a time when the subject was often hidden behind fear and stigma.

He died in 1961. A memoir published the following year reflects the respect he earned from colleagues, and his writing still offers a clear picture of how one early-20th-century doctor tried to connect medicine, public health, and honest communication.