J. Brooks Brown Bio

Dr. J. Brooks Brown is a retired Jacksonville physician and UNF benefactor who has been a leader in health care education and innovation. Dr. Brown practiced surgery in Jacksonville from 1953 to 1983 and was instrumental in incorporating Memorial Hospital in 1964, serving as its Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

In 1995, he was named Chairman and CEO of Genesis Health Inc., the rehabilitation affiliation of Memorial Hospital. Genesis was renamed the Brooks Health System in 1999, and Dr. Brown continued to serve as Chairman until July 1, 2005. He remains a member of the Brooks Rehabilitation Board. The System includes the Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital; a Brooks Rehabilitation Network of outpatient clinics; the University of Florida Brooks Center for Rehabilitation Studies; and the Brooks Health Foundation.

Dr. Brown has had a long-standing relationship with UNF. A donation by Genesis resulted in the establishment of the Genesis Distinguished Professorship, the Genesis Health Scholars and four College of Health research professorships. UNF awarded Dr. Brown an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters on December 10, 1999. He also was a 1999 recipient of the College of Business Prime F. Osborn III Distinguished Business Leaders Award.