Aaron Shirley
{{infobox medical person
|name=Aaron Shirley
|birth_date={{birth date|1933|1|3}}
|birth_place=Gluckstadt, Mississippi, U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2014|11|26|1933|1|3}}
|death_place=Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
|education=Tougaloo College
Meharry Medical College
|occupation={{flatlist|
- Physician
- pediatrician
- civil rights activist
}}
|spouse=Ollye Shirley
|children=4
}}
Aaron Shirley (January 3, 1933 – November 26, 2014) was an American physician, health care innovator, and civil rights activist.{{cite web|url=http://capitolwords.org/date/2012/02/16/E214-2_honoring-dr-aaron-shirley-for-his-commitment-to-se/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141130080036/http://capitolwords.org/date/2012/02/16/E214-2_honoring-dr-aaron-shirley-for-his-commitment-to-se/|url-status=dead|title=Honoring Dr. Aaron Shirley For His Commitment To Service To The Cause of Health Care|archivedate=November 30, 2014}}
Shirley was born in Gluckstadt, Mississippi.{{cite book|author1=John D. |author2=Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation |title=The MacArthur Fellows Program: the first fifteen years, 1981-1996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kcYTAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=28 July 2012|year=1997|publisher=John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation|page=194}} His first introduction to becoming a medical professional was through his sister who was a nurse who firmly planted the expectation that he should become a physician and contribute to the community.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Shirley, MD – Our Health Stories |url=https://www.ourhealthstories.today/leaders/aaron-shirley-md/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |language=en-US}} He was chairman of the board for the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation,{{cite web|url=http://apps.nlm.nih.gov/againsttheodds/exhibit/community_health/challenging_times.cfm|title = Against the Odds:Serving the Community}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jacksonmedicalmall.org/FoundationBoard.html |title=Foundation Board -- Welcome to Jackson Medical Mall |accessdate=2010-04-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425072107/http://www.jacksonmedicalmall.org/FoundationBoard.html |archivedate=2010-04-25 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=10869940 |title=Dr. Aaron Shirley honored for pioneer work - WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS |access-date=2010-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306023034/http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=10869940 |archive-date=2012-03-06 |url-status=dead }} and an associate professor in pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.{{cite web|url=http://winterinstitute.org/openingdoors/ |title=Integration of the University of Mississippi Professional Schools |accessdate=2010-04-30 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902121425/http://winterinstitute.org/openingdoors/ |archivedate=2011-09-02 }}
Education
He was a graduate of Tougaloo College, receiving a Bachelor of Science in 1955, and graduated from Meharry Medical College with an M.D. in 1959.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Shirley |url=https://www.macfound.org/fellows/class-of-1993/aaron-shirley |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=www.macfound.org |language=en}} Dr. Shirley completed medical school and his internship in Tennessee, then entered private practice in Vicksburg in 1960.{{Cite web |last=Gates |first=Jimmie E. |title=Medical pioneer Dr. Aaron Shirley has died |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2014/11/26/dr-aaron-shirley-medical-mall-university-of-mississippi-medical-center/19560693/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=The Clarion-Ledger |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=In Memoriam: Dr. Aaron Shirley 1933-2014 |url=https://www.umc.edu/news/Miscellaneous/2015/January/In-Memoriam--Dr--Aaron-Shirley-1933-2014.html |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=University of Mississippi Medical Center |language=en}} He completed his education in traditionally Black colleges and did not have access to hospital privileges.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Shirley, MD – Our Health Stories |url=https://www.ourhealthstories.today/leaders/aaron-shirley-md/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |language=en-US}} 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.{{cite web|author1=Ruth Cummins|url=https://www.umc.edu/News_and_Publications/Press_Release/2014-12-01-02_Dr__Aaron_Shirley__champion_of_health_care_and_social_justice.aspx|website=UMMC.edu|accessdate=2 September 2015|title=Dr. Aaron Shirley: Champion of health care and social justice|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133053/https://www.umc.edu/News_and_Publications/Press_Release/2014-12-01-02_Dr__Aaron_Shirley__champion_of_health_care_and_social_justice.aspx|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}} For a long time, Shirley was the only black pediatrician in the state of Mississippi.
Career
Shirley co-formed the Medical Committee on Human Rights in 1963 to provide medical care to civil rights workers during Mississippi's Freedom Summer.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Alexandra |date=2021-02-24 |title=Dr. Aaron Shirley: Health Care Innovator |url=https://www.nachc.org/dr-aaron-shirley-health-care-innovator/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=NACHC |language=en-US}} He was a member of the Institute of Medicine,{{cite web |title=Aaron Shirley - Institute of Medicine |url=http://www.iom.edu/Global/Directory/Detail.aspx?id=0000050515 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802094125/http://www.iom.edu/Global/Directory/Detail.aspx?id=0000050515 |archive-date=2 August 2012}} and Citizens' Health Care Working Group.{{cite web |title=Citizens' Health Care Working Group: Members |url=https://govinfo.library.unt.edu/chc/about/members.html}}
In 1970, Shirley co-founded Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center, the largest Federal Qualified Community Health Center and only the second Community Health Center within the state of Mississippi to provide medical care for the underserved. The center later became a model for federally funded medical centers across the country for health promotion, disease prevention, and comprehensive care.{{Cite web |last=Gates |first=Jimmie E. |title=Medical pioneer Dr. Aaron Shirley has died |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2014/11/26/dr-aaron-shirley-medical-mall-university-of-mississippi-medical-center/19560693/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=The Clarion-Ledger |language=en-US}} The center also served as a hub to recruit African-Americans into becoming health professionals.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Shirley |url=https://www.macfound.org/fellows/class-of-1993/aaron-shirley |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=www.macfound.org |language=en}} The center additionally serves as a central base for family-planning services that is part of an exceptional, school-based health program.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Shirley |url=https://www.macfound.org/fellows/class-of-1993/aaron-shirley |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=www.macfound.org |language=en}}
In 1996, Dr. Shirley created the Jackson Medical Mall, from an abandoned shopping center, in collaboration with Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, and the University of Mississippi. Shirley was led the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation as chair until his death in 2014.
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.{{cite news |author=Suzy Hansen |date=July 27, 2012 |title=What Can Mississippi Learn From Iran? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/magazine/what-can-mississippis-health-care-system-learn-from-iran.html |work=New York Times Magazine}} This type of "health house" program allows for health care professionals to provide preventative care in rural environments. At its launch in 2010, the HealthConnect program consisted of 11 school-based community health centers across Mississippi.
Personal life
He was married to Dr. Ollye Brown Shirley, who he met during his time at Tougaloo College. The couple had four children.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.wapt.com/article/jackson-schools-named-for-confederate-leaders-get-new-identity/34978817# |title=Jackson schools named for Confederate leaders get new identity |date=2020-12-16 |last=Pickens |first=Erin |language=en |access-date=2025-02-19 |via=www.wapt.com}} Dr. Ollye Shirley was an educator and civil rights activist who served on the Jackson Public Schools board of directors and as chair of the Mississippi NAACP Education Committee.{{Cite web |last=Ballou |first=Howard |date=2016-09-13 |title=Dr. Ollye Shirley remembered as "remarkable woman" |url=https://www.wlbt.com/story/33077762/dr-ollye-shirley-remembered-as-remarkable-woman/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.wlbt.com |language=en}} The Shirleys' Vicksburg home was a gathering place for the Black civil rights movement in the 1960s. The Shirleys additionally operated a Black weekly newsletter that made its way to the all-white Democratic National Convention in 1964.{{Cite web |last=Gates |first=Jimmie E. |title=Dr. Aaron Shirley remembered as a humble visionary |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/12/06/dr-aaron-shirley-remembered-humble-visionary/20026875/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=The Clarion-Ledger |language=en-US}}
Death and legacy
Shirley died of natural causes in Jackson, Mississippi, on November 26, 2014. He was 81.{{cite web|url=http://www.wjtv.com/story/27492210/local-civil-rights-pioneer-dr-aaron-shirley-dies|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118110455/http://www.wjtv.com/story/27492210/local-civil-rights-pioneer-dr-aaron-shirley-dies|url-status=dead|title=Local Civil Rights Pioneer Dr. Aaron Shirley Dies|archivedate=January 18, 2015}}{{cite web|title = Medical pioneer Dr. Aaron Shirley has died|url = https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2014/11/26/dr-aaron-shirley-medical-mall-university-of-mississippi-medical-center/19560693/|accessdate = 2015-09-04}} 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.{{cite web|title = Dr. Aaron Shirley remembered as a humble visionary|url = https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/12/06/dr-aaron-shirley-remembered-humble-visionary/20026875/|accessdate = 2015-09-04}}
In 2020, Robert E. Lee Elementary School in Jackson, Mississippi, was renamed Shirley Elementary School after Drs. Aaron Shirley and Ollye Shirley. {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.wapt.com/article/jackson-schools-named-for-confederate-leaders-get-new-identity/34978817# |title=Jackson schools named for Confederate leaders get new identity |date=2020-12-16 |last=Pickens |first=Erin |language=en |access-date=2025-02-19 |via=www.wapt.com}}{{Cite web |title=About Shirley / About Shirley |url=https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/domain/666 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.jackson.k12.ms.us |language=en}}
Awards
- 2015 Community Service Award from the Mississippi board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning (Post-Humous) {{Cite web |title=Aaron Shirley, MD – Our Health Stories |url=https://www.ourhealthstories.today/leaders/aaron-shirley-md/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |language=en-US}}
- 2013 American Association of Clinical Endocrinology. AACE Outstanding Service Award for Promotion of Endocrine Health of an Underserved Population.{{Cite web |title=Past Award and Lectureship Recipients |url=https://pro.aace.com/about/awards/past-award-recipients |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=American Association of Clinical Endocrinology |language=en}}
- 2013 Citizen Diplomat Award {{Cite web |url=http://www.globaltiesus.org/news/9-news/129-nciv-presents-dr-aaron-shirley-with-its-citizen-diplomat-award |title=NCIV Presents Dr. Aaron Shirley with its Citizen Diplomat Award - Global Ties U.S. |access-date=2015-10-15 |archive-date=2020-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518192823/https://www.globaltiesus.org/news/9-news/129-nciv-presents-dr-aaron-shirley-with-its-citizen-diplomat-award |url-status=dead }}
- 2009 Governor's Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Award
- 2007 Mississippi Majesty Honoree {{cite web |url=http://www.mississippimajestyawards.com/aaronshirleybio.htm |title=2007 Majesty Honoree Aaron Shirley, M.D. |access-date=2010-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714102042/http://www.mississippimajestyawards.com/aaronshirleybio.htm |archive-date=2011-07-14 |url-status=dead }}
- 1993 MacArthur Fellows Program "Genius Grant"
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.vimeo.com/5908385 "Dr. Blair Batson on Dr. Aaron Shirley's arrival at UMC"], Winter Institute
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shirley, Aaron}}
Category:Physicians from Mississippi
Category:Tougaloo College alumni
Category:Meharry Medical College alumni
Category:University of Mississippi faculty
Category:People from Madison County, Mississippi
Category:Members of the National Academy of Medicine
Category:20th-century American physicians
Category:21st-century American physicians
Category:20th-century African-American physicians