Dr. Jerris Hedges, Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine since March 2008, is known nationally as co-author of one of the leading texts in patient care, Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine, now in its sixth edition. In Hawai‘i, he is known as a leader who has built vital bridges between JABSOM's community partners and collaborators, in the fields of life sciences. In 2013, he was recognized as "Physician of the Year" by the Hawai‘i Medical Association. He is also the Barry and Virginia Weinman Endowed Chair.
Trained as an emergency physician, Dr. Hedges has spent the last 30 years contributing to the medical field through his work in clinical care, university teaching, research and administration.
At the internationally respected Oregon Health & Science University's (OHSU) School of Medicine, Dr. Hedges served as Medical Staff Chair, Professor and Department Chair in Emergency Medicine before being named Vice Dean at OHSU in 2005. Dr. Hedges' leadership helped OHSU earn recognition as one of the "top ten" National Institutes of Health-funded academic emergency medicine research departments in the nation. The OHSU has granted Dr. Hedges' several honors including outstanding faculty alumnus, vice dean emeritus, and an endowed professorship in his name.
Dr. Hedges has also served as President of both the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine. In October 2000, he was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine.
Dr. Hedges earned his bachelor's degree in aeronautics and astronautics, his master's degree in chemical engineering, and his medical degree at the University of Washington. He completed his emergency medicine residency at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, practiced in his home town of Olympia, Washington, and served as faculty at the University of Cincinnati - School of Medicine before joining OHSU. Dr. Hedges also holds a Master of Medical Management from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
Dr. Hedges is participating in the I Wear Turquoise campaign because, as he states, “I know that raising funds for health promotion and scientific research is a challenge. I try to contribute to causes which make a difference in our community. As many suffer from asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other persistent lung conditions which can benefit from new interventions and new scientific understandings, I am a supporter of the American Lung Association. In this time of the SARS-novel-coronavirus we know that those with such chronic lung conditions are at increased risk of coronavirus related lung injury. Let's work together to keep those with lung conditions breathing at their best!”
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The I WEAR TURQUOISE campaign is seeking community leaders to help raise awareness and research funding to defeat lung defeat COVID-19 once and for all. As an I WEAR TURQUOISE candidate, leaders commit to:
I Wear Turquoise Ambassadors commit to:
- Sporting our LUNG FORCE pin during the month of June
- Raising lung health and air quality awareness through their networks
- Commit to a fundraising goal of $2,500 to support the American Lung Association research, programs, and services
- Consider being a media spokesperson for IWT
For questions about participating, donating or sponsoring, please contact:
Pedro Haro
pedro.haro@lung.org
808-537-5966.
