The Jonathan E. Rhoads Professorship of Surgery

The Professorship was established in 1978 through the contributions of colleagues, friends, and grateful patients of Jonathan E. Rhoads, MD (1908–2002) for his over 50 years of distinguished contributions as a physician, scientist, educator, scholar, and Professor of Surgery at Penn Medicine.

Dr. Rhoads served his residency in surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1949, he became the J. William White Professor of Surgical Research and, in l959, was named the John Rhea Barton Professor of Surgery, serving as Chairman of the Department from 1959 to 1972. Dr. Rhoads is credited with numerous medical advances, including an early exploration into the use of antibiotics, discoveries in the factors regulating the level of plasma prothrombin, and the development of intravenous hyperalimentation. He was an active member of innumerable national and local civic, medical and educational associations. Dr. Rhoads served as Provost of the University of Pennsylvania from 1956 to 1959.

Current Chairholder

The Jonathan E. Rhoads Professorship of Surgery is currently open.

Previous Chairholders

• John M. Daly, MD 1986–Date unknown
• Douglas L. Fraker, MD 1996--2017