CONTRIBUTED BY EAH
OPELIKA —
Every two years on Oct. 1, the chief of staff role at East Alabama Health (EAH) rotates to a new active staff physician following a vote conducted by medical staff members.
J. Gary Bridges, D.O. has been selected to succeed Mary Ann Shannon, M.D., as the EAH chief of staff and will hold the position from Oct. 1, 2023, until Sept. 30, 2025. Bridges practices at Anesthesia Associates of East Alabama.
As chief of staff, Bridges will serve as a liaison between the medical staff and the hospital board; work with the hospital CEO and administration to develop policies, coordinate care and enforce the policies of the by-laws; head the medical executive committee; and serve on other committees of the medical staff.
Bridges brings significant experience to the role, having previously served as chief of anesthesiology, chief of surgery and multiple committees more than 20 years with EAH. Now as chief of staff, he said he hopes to help keep the organization looking forward.
“The number one goal is to help recruit medical staff to better serve the needs of our growing community,” Bridges said. “It’s important we have a unified medical staff working with administration to help move our organization forward.”
Bridges earned his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Georgia, his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at UAB. While at UAB, he served as chief resident within the Department of Anesthesiology.
Outside of work, Bridges said he enjoys watching Georgia athletics, SEC football, working on his farm, hunting and traveling with his wife.
