Dr. Christopher Jones- Transplant Surgeon

Dr. Christopher Jones knew at a very early age that he wanted to end the organ transplant waiting list.

His grandmother lived in the Deep South where many people are of low socioeconomic status; however, that didn’t mean that there wasn’t love and care near and far in her neighborhood.

Dr. Jones’ grandmother had a young neighbor, Rose, who Chris played with every summer when he visited. Rose was a young girl who was clearly sick, but not many knew what was wrong with her until EMS pulled up in front of Rose’s home.

“It’s that little mulatto girl that needs a liver transplant,” said the EMS Technician. “She isn’t going to get one.” Rose passed away not too long after, while awaiting a lifesaving transplant.

At the age of eight, Dr. Jones knew he was going to be a transplant surgeon, especially to give all an equitable chance at transplant.

Transplantation has taken Dr. Jones across the country; Washington, DC for medical school, Residency at Vanderbilt School of Medicine in Nashville, TN, Fellowship at UCLA and most recently, University of Louisville Division Director, Division of Transplantation and Associate Professor of Transplantation.

Along the way, he’s picked up meaningful roles with organizations like: Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates Board Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Member and faculty advisor to UofL’s Future Healers Program.

Future Healers was formed in Summer 2020, when students came to Dr. Jones in frustration about health inequities as well as wanting to treat gun violence as a public health issue. They want to help the community that is helping them earn their medical education.

The goal is to introduce more youth to the field of medicine while helping them navigate through the emotional trauma that stems from the increasing violence currently plaguing their communities.

This is a testament and one step closer to the equity that the younger Christopher Jones is trying to achieve.