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Pittsburgh Courier NEW
www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 112 No. 30 Two Sections
JULY 28-AUGUST 3, 2021
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Dr. Leon Haley Jr. dies in tragic jet ski accident Shady Side Academy graduate was CEO of a Florida hospital by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Pittsburgh native Leon L. Haley Jr., M.D., who most recently served as CEO of the University of Florida Health System-Jacksonville, died in a jet ski accident near West Palm Beach, July 24.
serving the underserved, moving medicine forward and impacting the lives of each person he encountered.” “Dr. Haley was an incredible leader and a beloved son, father, friend and colleague,” added David R. Nelson, M.D., Senior Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Florida and President of
“Dr. Haley meant so much to so many people and to Jacksonville. Losing him is tragic and painful.” LENNY CURRY Mayor of Jacksonville, Fla. He was 56. “Dr. Haley was a beloved member of the UF Health family whose warm smile and kind demeanor brightened the day of all who knew him,” said Colleen Koch, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., Dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine, in a public statement. “He was a fierce advocate for his patients, his team and his community. He cared deeply about
UF Health. Dr. Haley was raised mostly in Point Breeze, and graduated from Shady Side Academy in 1982. He told the Courier in an exclusive interview four years ago that his parents, Ann and Leon Sr., were his personal role models, along with his grandmother, Mattie Sharpe (deceased). Dr. Haley also said at the time that his professional role
models included the late Carolyn Carter, one of the first Black head nurses at St. Francis General Hospital, and Don Yealy, now the chief medical officer at UPMC. Yealy “was a Fellow in Emergency Medicine that helped interest me in the field,” Dr. Haley had said. Dr. Haley completed his undergraduate degree from Brown University in Providence, and earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He received his master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Michigan. Dr. Haley completed his residency in Emergency Medicine and was a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. “Dr. Haley was such an incredible leader and colleague to all of us at UF Health, but he was also a good friend to so many, an amazing advocate for equality in health care and most importantly a man of integrity who always wanted to do the right thing,” Dr. Nelson said, reported by the Florida Times-Union. “This is not only a tremendous
DR. LEON L. HALEY JR., a 1982 Shady Side Academy High School graduate, died unexpectedly in Florida on July 24. Dr. Haley was CEO of the University of Florida Health System-Jacksonville. loss to Dr. Haley’s family, friends and the people he led at UF, but also to our communities in North Florida and elsewhere around the country. His leadership and friendship will be missed, but we will come together and continue his vision.” Prior to arriving in Jack-
sonville, Dr. Haley was executive associate dean of the Emory School of Medicine and deputy senior vice president of medical affairs at Grady Memorial Hospital, both in Atlanta. By all accounts, his appointment to CEO of UF Health-Jacksonville was met with praise.
“Dr. Haley was instrumental in my decision to join UF. In the short time I knew him, I saw firsthand how inspirational of a leader he was, and I feel lucky to have been able to call him my colleague,” Dr. SEE DR. HALEY A5
Janel Young emerging as an artist locally, nationally Created art for popular Pittsburgh bus stop, Arts Festival, U.S. Tennis Association by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
The most popular bus stop in Pittsburgh has become a sight to see. On the corner of Smithfield Street and Sixth Avenue, Downtown, Pittsburgh-born artist Janel Young transformed the “P1” (or to the seasoned generation, “EBA”) “East Busway All Stops” bus stop into a colorful, space galaxy-themed piece of art entitled, “RESPECT.” Using a blend of the colors blue, purple, magenta and others, the artwork is meant to convey that each person should show respect for another at all times. “The artwork is supposed to reflect COVID challenges and how Pittsburgh is dealing with them,” Young
told the New Pittsburgh Courier as she was working on her design, June 20. “Things keep changing (with the COVID restrictions or non-restrictions), so I wanted to do something that would be a little more evergreen. The concept is, respect is more important than the (COVID) rules. Wearing a mask or staying six feet apart, even if those things keep changing, the respect for each other should stay the same.” Port Authority of Allegheny County halted all buses and riders from using the bus stop for five days in June so that Young could create the piece. Port Authority and Smart Growth America commissioned the artwork. SEE YOUNG A2
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JANEL YOUNG, who grew up in Beltzhoover and attended Schenley High School, was commissioned to create a painting at the popular bus stop at Smithfield Street and Sixth Avenue, Downtown...one of her many artistic creations around town. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)