J. Willis Hurst, MD (1920-2011)
Clinician, Teacher, Investigator, Writer, Founder of the Emory PA
Program
Dr.
J. Willis Hurst grew up in a house full of teachers--his father, an aunt,
and another teacher who shared the house with the Hurst family. Thus it
seems logical that Dr. Hurst became one of the most revered and respected
teachers of medicine and cardiology of his time.
Dr. Hurst is known for his love of teaching. "I think teaching is the
greatest profession there is," says Dr. Hurst. "I've always found it
exciting to try to create an environment where young trainees, students,
house officers, and fellows can learn. That's what I've tried to do." As a
result of Dr. Hurst's success in building the cardiology program at Emory,
a position as a cardiology resident in the Emory program became a
highly-coveted prize. Seventy percent of living Emory Medical School
alumni were overseen by Dr. Hurst in his position as Professor and
Chairman of the Department of Medicine.
An outstanding teacher and writer, Dr. Hurst was also an excellent
clinician, sought after by people across the nation and the world for
cardiac care. Dr. Hurst served as personal cardiologist to former U.S.
president Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as other government leaders.
Dr. Hurst was a post-graduate student and cardiac fellow under Dr. Paul
Dudley White, the "father of American cardiology," at Massachusetts
General Hospital in Boston. After completing his fellowship in Boston, Dr.
Hurst came to Atlanta and went into private practice as one of only six
cardiologists in the city. In addition to his practice of cardiology, he
lectured, wrote, and taught.
Dr. Hurst began teaching at Emory in 1950, believing that his interests in
teaching, writing, and research could best be pursued in the setting of
academic medicine. In 1957, he was named Professor and Chairman of the
Department of Medicine. During his 30 year tenure as chairman, Dr. Hurst
recruited dozens of new faculty members to the School of Medicine,
increasing the faculty from 14 to over 140 and developing a strong
education program in medicine.
As knowledge and technology in medicine and cardiology grew, Dr. Hurst,
who was one of the founding fathers of the Emory Clinic, worked to ensure
that no one in the Atlanta area or Georgia would have to go elsewhere for
care, particularly cardiac care. He achieved this goal by adding the
finest teachers, researchers, and clinicians to the faculty of the School
of Medicine; working to expand the research facilities at Emory;
establishing the post-graduate program of continuing education;
originating the Physician Assistant program; creating a cardiac
catheterization laboratory on the Emory campus; and increasing the length
of the cardiology training program, among other achievements.
Dr. Hurst is the author or editor of almost 400 scientific articles and
over 60 books, including The Heart, widely considered to be the
"bible" of cardiology. The Heart has been translated into five
languages.
Dr. Hurst is a past president of the American Heart Association and the
Association of Professors of Medicine. He served on the National Heart,
Lung and Blood Council and was Chairman of the Cardiovascular Board. Dr.
Hurst has received numerous awards and teaching honors, but he is most
proud of the teaching awards he has received from students, house staff
and fellows.
Dr. Hurst recently stated: "I always felt lucky that I was able to be
professor and chairman of the Department of Medicine and continue my role
in cardiology and continue to do clinical research. At all times, I
continued to see patients."
In the late 1990's, Dr. Hurst wrote and published The Quest for
Excellence: The History of the Department of Medicine at Emory University
School of Medicine, 1834-1986. Dr. Hurst continues his active involvement
at Emory by writing and teaching on a daily basis.
Dr. Hurst also continues as Consultant to the Division of Cardiology of
Emory University. In that role, he teaches 8 sessions per week and writes
the remainder of the time. He continues to produce one to two scientific
books each year and recently wrote a children's book, The Heart: The
Kids' Question and Answer Book, with his grandson. The novel,
Prescription for Greed, written with his son Phil Hurst, was published
in November, 2000.
The family
will receive friends on Friday, October 7, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at H.M.
Patterson
& Son-Spring Hill Chapel, 1020 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. A
memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 8, at
Northside United Methodist Church, 2799 Northside Drive, Atlanta, GA
30305. There will be a gathering for family and friends immediately
following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the J.
Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency Program, Emory University, 1440
Clifton Road NE, WHSCAB 170, Atlanta, GA, 30322.
See a Real media video (Requires the free
real media player) with
Dr Hurst teaching PA students about professionalism click here
A copy of the conversation between J
Willis Hurst and Eugene Stead in 1998 about PA programs
