Erlanger trustees and staff bid an emotional goodbye to outgoing board member Jack Murrah, philanthropist and community leader in Chattanooga, at the hospital's Thursday night board meeting.
Betsy Chapin Taylor, chief development officer at Erlanger, said Mr. Murrah has been a "blessing" to the hospital.
"You are one of those rare and special people who truly see their duty of service as a privilege and who gives their passion, their intelligence and their influence for the betterment of others," she said.
After serving almost 14 months on Erlanger hospital's board, Mr. Murrah will step down at the end of the month to return to his hometown of Birmingham, Ala., to address family needs there. He said he hopes to return to Chattanooga as soon as possible.
ERLANGER BOARDHamilton County legislators appointed Jack Murrah in May 2009 to the board of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority, which oversees Erlanger hospital. Local lawmakers are beginning a search for a replacement. Erlanger's 11-member board is made up of four trustees appointed by the County Commission, four by the City Council and one each by Chancery Court judges, the Chattanooga and Hamilton County Medical Society and the legislative delegation.
President and CEO Jim Brexler said Mr. Murrah's leadership will be missed.
"Your inspiration to all of us to raise the bar has been something that we've all taken both personally and corporately," he said.
Also at the meeting, Dr. David Seaberg, dean of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga, told trustees the school still is conducting interviews for a chair of the newly developed OB-GYN department, which will help bolster the OB-GYN residency program.
That residency program was put on probation last October after it was cited for residents performing too few procedures in certain areas, putting them in danger of failing to meet the training required by the council that accredits residency programs.
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