One of the lesser-known figures in U.S. history was in Chattanooga on Wednesday to address Erlanger Department of Surgery residents and local physicians during a UT College of Medicine Grand Rounds lecture.
Dr. Ronald Jones chronicled his unique experience attempting to save the life of President John Kennedy at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, as well as that of Lee Harvey Oswald, 51 years ago. Then a 30-year old Chief Resident, Dr. Jones was one of a small group of doctors who worked to revive President Kennedy following an assassination attempt by Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963. Despite numerous attempts to save him, “The President was pronounced dead 12 minutes after being wheeled into our Trauma Room One,” Dr. Jones told the assembled physicians.
Two days after rushing to President Kennedy’s side, Dr. Jones was summoned to Parkland’s operating room to assist in surgery on Lee Harvey Oswald - the man who had killed Kennedy, and was shot point blank by Jack Ruby. “Oswald was pronounced dead during surgery,” Dr. Jones recounted.
Following his Grand Rounds presentation, Dr. Jones answered numerous questions about what many consider “the assignment of a lifetime.” Speaking with Dr. Jones after his lecture are (left) Erlanger radiation oncologist, Dr. Jeffrey Gefter and Dr. Robert Fore, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga.
Dr. Jones is chairman emeritus of the Department of Surgery at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.