Aaron Shirley (January 3, 1933 – November 26, 2014) was an American physician and civil rights activist.[1]

Shirley was born in Gluckstadt, Mississippi.[2] He was Chairman of the Board for the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation,[3][4][5] and an associate professor in pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.[6]

He was a graduate of Tougaloo College and Meharry Medical College. Dr. Blair E. Batson, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at University of Mississippi Medical Center, offered him a position in the department's residency education program. Shirley became the first African-American learner at UMMC when he entered the residency program in 1965.[7] For a long time, Shirley was the only black pediatrician in the state of Mississippi. He was not dedicated to non-violence; upon hearing that the Ku Klux Klan was heading to his home, he warned the local police that his sons knew how to shoot. He also was known for installing wells to provide clean drinking water and for traveling the countryside to care for sick babies.[8]

He was married to Ollye Shirley; they had four children.

He was a member of the Institute of Medicine,[9] and Citizens' Health Care Working Group.[10] In 1970, Shirley co-founded Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center, the largest Federal Qualified Community Health Center within the state of Mississippi to provide medical care for the underserved.

In 2010, Shirley founded the HealthConnect program. Modeled after a similar program in Iran, the program sends doctors and nurses to poor rural homes to help prevent unnecessary ER visits.[8]

Shirley died of natural causes in Jackson, Mississippi, on November 26, 2014. He was 81.[11][12] Gov. Phil Bryant declared December 6, 2014 as “Dr. Aaron Shirley Day” in the state. Also, Jackson City Councilman Melvin Priester Jr. presented Shirley's family with an American flag that flew over the White House the previous week in Shirley's honor. It was sent by President Barack Obama and 2nd District U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson.[13]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Honoring Dr. Aaron Shirley For His Commitment To Service To The Cause of Health Care". Archived from the original on November 30, 2014.
  2. ↑ John D.; Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (1997). The MacArthur Fellows Program: the first fifteen years, 1981-1996. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. p. 194. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "Against the Odds:Serving the Community".
  4. ↑ "Foundation Board -- Welcome to Jackson Medical Mall". Archived from the original on 2010-04-25. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  5. ↑ "Dr. Aaron Shirley honored for pioneer work - WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS". Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  6. ↑ "Integration of the University of Mississippi Professional Schools". Archived from the original on 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  7. ↑ Ruth Cummins. "Dr. Aaron Shirley: Champion of health care and social justice". UMMC.edu. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  8. 1 2 Suzy Hansen (July 27, 2012). "What Can Mississippi Learn From Iran?". New York Times Magazine.
  9. ↑ "Aaron Shirley - Institute of Medicine". Archived from the original on 2 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Citizens' Health Care Working Group: Members".
  11. ↑ "Local Civil Rights Pioneer Dr. Aaron Shirley Dies". Archived from the original on January 18, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Medical pioneer Dr. Aaron Shirley has died". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  13. ↑ "Dr. Aaron Shirley remembered as a humble visionary". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  14. ↑ "NCIV Presents Dr. Aaron Shirley with its Citizen Diplomat Award - Global Ties U.S." Archived from the original on 2020-05-18. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  15. ↑ "2007 Majesty Honoree Aaron Shirley, M.D." Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
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