Harwood Northmore Sturtevant was born in Chicago, United States. He graduated from Notre Dame University in Indiana and received a doctorate in medicine from the St. Louis University Medical School in 1947–1949. He received postdoctoral training at Marquette University, Milwaukee County Hospital, University Hospital Columbus and Brooke Army Hospital.

After completing his radiologist training in the U.S. Navy, he served as a lieutenant colonel at Wilford Hall USAF Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, and served as a visiting professor in radiology at Baylor University, as well as a surgeon committee member to train interns and residents at military hospitals.

In 1960 he opened his business in Springfield with Dr. Napper and Anthony, and in 1977–1979 served as director of St. John's Mercy Hospital. He retired early and worked as a missionary with his wife Mary Lawrence Lampe in Korea first and China second.

The couple visited Korea in 1980 and served in the radiology department of Dongsan Christian Hospital. The hospital's needs and the couple's volunteer plan matched well, so they volunteered.

Sturtevant was called by God on December 13, 2015, at the age of 91, in Springfield, Missouri, USA.

Harwood Sturtevant engraved on the signboard of Moffett Hall at Keimyung University Daegu Dongsan Hospital