J. H. Rush

Jesse Hackley (J.H.) Rush (September 6, 1868 – January 22, 1931) was an American physician who founded the first private hospital in Meridian, Mississippi.

Background Jesse Hackley Rush was born in Kemper County, Mississippi on 6 September 1868. He was the second of thirteen children of William Vaughn and Julia (Key) Rush. Abel Mastin Key, his maternal grandfather was one of the founders of Kemper County, serving as its first circuit clerk.

Rush and several of his brothers would pursue careers in health care.

Career Rush began his professional career as a dentist in Meridian, Mississippi. In 1910, he graduated with highest honors from the Mississippi Medical College. He received additional training in the field of surgery at New York Polyclinic in New York City.

He was one of seven individuals who founded the Meridian Sanitarium in the early 20th century.

In 2022, Rush Health Systems (which includes several regional facilities) merged with Ochsner Health to become Ochsner Rush Health.

Family Rush married Mary Hunnicutt (1874–1954) and this union produced three children: Lowry, Dorothy and Leslie Vaughn, who all survived him. His sons H. Lowry and Leslie would follow in their father's footsteps and join the medical profession; Leslie Rush's contribution to orthopedic medicine is the invention of the "Rush Pin", which revolutionized the treatment of bone fractures and has continued to be used in the 21st century.