For 16 years, Dr. Lee Jackson has worked at CHI Memorial, taking on positions such as physician advisor and medical director of surgical services. Now, he has a new role as the hospital system’s chief medical officer, one of the highest positions in health care.
Aside from pediatrics and labor and delivery, Jackson said the hospital offers all other aspects of care, from employing orthopedics to aiding patients back to health in its stroke and heart centers and more. Trained as a urologist focusing on urologic cancer, Jackson helped start Memorial’s robotics program for the specialty, leading him from Florida to the Scenic City.
In a phone interview with the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Jackson discussed his determination to perform well in his new role, the evolution of the medical industry and a culture of caring for both patients and each other among staff.
The interview has been edited lightly for clarity.