A longtime physician and leader at The University of Tennessee Medical Center, Dr. Jerry Epps, announced his retirement from the medical center, effective April 15. Epps joined the medical center in 1987 as an anesthesiologist and served in numerous leadership roles throughout his 30-plus year career, most recently as senior vice president and chief medical officer.

“Jerry has provided outstanding leadership, wisdom, vision, and mentorship to our physicians, team members, volunteers, patients, and community for more than three decades and while we’ll miss him, we’re happy for him and wish him well in retirement,” said Joe Landsman, president and CEO at The University of Tennessee Medical Center. “Jerry’s ability to take a complex issue or problem and come up with a thorough solution has been impressive.”

Landsman said a successor to Epps is expected to be named soon. He commended Epps for enacting multiple protocols as chief medical officer to help the medical center and community combat the opioid epidemic, while also creating a safer environment and improved care plan for patients, team members, and physicians at the medical center.

“The opportunity to serve as chief medical officer for The University of Tennessee Medical Center has been one of the great honors of my career,” said Epps. “The dedication to our patients by the physicians, nurses, team members, and administrative leadership is unrivaled. The entire medical center should take great pride in all of its accomplishments. I certainly do.”

During his tenure at the medical center, Epps held multiple leadership positions. In addition to practicing medicine and serving as chief manager of a private group of anesthesiologists throughout much of his career, Epps’ roles included: Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology with the medical center and UT Graduate School of Medicine; Chief of Staff; member of the board of directors of University Health System, Inc.; member of the board of directors of University Physicians’ Association.

Respected nationally, Epps was a Senior Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology, and a member of the board of directors for the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group. He devoted much of his career to shaping the future of anesthesiology through research and his commitment to the education of resident physicians and student nurse anesthetists. Prior to moving to Knoxville, he held the role of vice chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Brooke Army Medical Center, located on Fort Sam Houston, TX.

Epps graduated first in his medical school class at the University of Kentucky. He continued his training with an internship in surgery at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, TX, and a residency in anesthesiology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Epps completed two fellowships, one in Pediatric Anesthesiology at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and the other in Cardiovascular Anesthesiology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

An exercise and outdoors enthusiast, Dr. Epps plans to spend time traveling, playing tennis, golfing, skiing, and enjoying the outdoors with his wife of more than 40 years, Eleesa.