Dr. John STROEHLEIN
(1940-2025)
Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the passing of longstanding Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) supporter Dr. John STROEHLEIN.
Dr. Stroehlein, a pioneering gastroenterologist, beloved mentor, and steadfast advocate for cross-cultural understanding, left an indelible mark on medicine and the many lives he touched through his care, leadership, and generosity.
Dr. Stroehlein was inspired to become a physician at age five. After earning his M.D. from the University of Louisville, he completed residencies at the Mayo Clinic and served as a Battalion Surgeon during the Vietnam War. While at Mayo, he performed the institution’s first upper GI endoscopy and published landmark research in gastrointestinal disease.
In 1977, he was recruited to MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he led the Gastroenterology Section and shaped a nationally respected program in GI cancer prevention and care. Over four decades, he served under five MD Anderson presidents, ultimately chairing the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and receiving the institution’s Lifetime Achievement Award. His name now lives on through an endowed professorship and lecture series in gastroenterology.
Dr. Stroehlein was also a dedicated teacher, mentor, and global collaborator, advancing academic medicine through international conferences, fellowships, and compassionate care. He held appointments across the Texas Medical Center and received numerous honors, including the Humanism in Medicine Award.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Stroehlein was a strong supporter of the arts and U.S.–Japan relations. Together with his wife Miwa Sakashita, he sustained the Japan America Society of Houston (JASH) through sizable contributions and inspired others to match that generosity, reinforcing his deep commitment to community and cultural exchange.
Moreover, he provided personal support to Japanese doctors training in Houston, offering guidance, mentorship, and even a place to stay—reflecting his deep generosity and commitment to fostering global collaboration in medicine.
Dr. Stroehlein will be remembered not only for his groundbreaking contributions to medicine, but for the compassion, generosity, and quiet strength with which he uplifted everyone around him. His legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched—his patients, colleagues, students, and the Japanese community he so warmly embraced.