FCEP/ACEP member Leon L. Haley Jr., MD, MHSA, FACEP, CPE died unexpectedly on July 24, 2021 at the young age of 56.

A leader both locally and nationally, Dr. Haley became the first Black CEO of UF Health Jacksonville in January 2018. He led by example during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming the first person in Jacksonville to receive the Pfizer vaccine and going out of his way to bring comfort and joy to sick patients. Dr. Haley also served on the Florida Hospital Association’s board of trustees, on the ACGME’s board of directors, and as a board member of the Florida Safety Net Hospital Alliance and American Board of Emergency Medicine, among many other civic institutions. Scan the QR code provided at the end of this article to read more about his rich legacy.

The following are submissions by fellow FCEP members as they share memories of their time with Dr. Leon Haley:

By Madeline Joseph, MD, FACEP, FAAP

Associate Dean for Inclusion and Equity & Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, UFCOM-Jacksonville

From my first meeting with Dr. Leon Haley at our EM Holiday Party in December 2017, I knew he would be a different type of Dean to the UF College of Medicine in Jacksonville (UFCOM-Jacksonville). He came to the party before he started his job in January 2018, and a few minutes after meeting many of our faculty, residents and staff, he was leading the dance line. I knew right then he would be a hands-on type of Dean, both personable and engaged.

I had the great fortune of working with Dr. Haley very closely on diversity, inclusion and equity matters as he established the inaugural Associate Dean for Inclusion and Equity position at UFCOM-Jacksonville and appointed me to serve. I looked forward to the Monday morning Deans’ meeting where he brought the leadership team together. He conducted those 30-minute meetings in such a way that left you motivated to do and serve more. He was intentional in helping leaders see the big picture and did not get caught up in their silos. Dr. Haley talked the talk and walked the walk, and did that with style, authenticity and dignity. We had many conversations during our monthly meetings on how to close the gaps in health disparities and how to change the culture to more of an inclusive excellence, where everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential. He knew when to let me run with my ideas, when to provide sound advice, and when to provide the forum to turn ideas into reality. What I discovered since his tragic death is that my story and experience were not unique and that many of us felt the same way. He honored each person’s gifts and brought out the best in us!

Dr. Haley, you will be missed greatly as a fierce leader, a colleague and a friend but your smile and spirit will continue to motivate us to uphold your legacy to achieve health equity. We will be Haley Strong! Rest in peace.

By David Caro, MD, FACEP

Disaster Medical Officer, UF Health Jacksonville; Associate Chair of Education & EM Residency Program Director, UFCOM-Jacksonville

I first met Dr. Haley at our department’s annual Christmas party in 2017, after he had accepted the job as the new dean for the UFCOM-Jacksonville. What still stands out to me was his presence: he didn’t seek out attention, and spent time in conversation with as many people as he could. He was gracious and kind, yet in talking with him, I couldn’t help but recognize the steady confidence, the characteristic poise that we all later came to rely on, and the ability to relate both with the individual as well as with a large group. Importantly, he wasn’t a wallflower. By the end of that evening, he was head of the party’s conga dance line, leading the entire department through the banquet room in a display of what would be one of his many “best” character traits: steady, down-to-earth, realistic leadership that included everyone he potentially could get involved, and feel good about doing it. He was one of the best “bridge-builders” I’ve ever met. He did his job day-in and day-out, never got out-worked, and his legacy with UF Health Jacksonville will be his servant leadership that drove UF Health Jacksonville and the UFCOM Jacksonville to continue its path of growth and community involvement in a way that few could.

By David Vukich, MD, FACEP

FCEP Past-President 1998-1999; Professor & Senior Associate Dean for Hospital Affairs; Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, UF Health Jacksonville

*Editor’s Note: On July 15, 2021, a week before Dr. Haley’s tragic death, Dr. David Vukich was interviewed for the 50 Years, 50 Voices Project. The following is a transcript of what he said about Dr. Haley during his interview, lightly edited for readability:

“I was chairman of the search committee that found Dean Haley. He was up at Emory at the time, and he was just a perfect fit! He didn’t see the ad. I just cold called him and said, “hey, can you come down and interview for this job? We have an inner-city hospital; it’s a little bit like Grady (Memorial Hospital),” which is where he cut his teeth, and he said, “sure, I’ll do it.” So one thing led to another; he interviewed, and he’s a star. I’ve had seven or eight CEO’s since I’ve been here, and to be sure, he’s the most capable. He’s caused the most advancement here, and he’s an emergency physician! So when we have our meetings, there’s this secret handshake or what not — half of what goes on is not verbal, because we’ve shared so many experiences. Compared to me, he’s a youngster… I’m probably a lot older than him, but he’s probably a lot wiser than I am.” ■

Learn more about Dr. Leon Haley on UF Health’s website here.

Read the resolution submitted to ACEP’s 2021 Council in memory of Dr. Haley here.