[6] During his time as an intern at the VG Hospital he was heavily influenced by his professor and head of Emergency Medicine Dr. Bob Scharf.

[5] In 1972, after two years in Cape Breton, Stewart entered the residency program in Emergency Medicine at the University of Southern California.

and Marcus Welby, M.D..[3] In 1978, he left California for Pennsylvania, where he served as the founding head of the emergency medicine department at the University of Pittsburgh.

"[2] Stewart is considered "a remarkable pioneer in the field of Emergency Medicine and EMS," for which he credited his "island-bound" upbringing and sense of community.

[8] Stewart entered provincial politics in the 1993 election, defeating Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Brian Young by over 1500 votes in the Cape Breton North riding.

[14][15] On September 15, 1997, Stewart resigned as MLA, opening up a seat for premier Russell MacLellan to run in a byelection.