Dr. David Parks Hall

Dr. David Parks Hall, a well-respected cardiothoracic surgeon, from Chickamauga, Georgia died peacefully at the age of 98 surrounded by his loving family. Born on December 23, 1924, Dr. Hall graduated from Gordon Lee Memorial High School. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Alabama and Howard College, then earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1948. After graduating from medical school, he finished internship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and surgical residency at Vanderbilt University. He subsequently completed a thoracic surgery fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Hall was later awarded a research fellowship, sponsored by the National Heart Institute, at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden and the University of Zurich, in Zurich, Switzerland. Dr. Hall was in the United States Navy and served as the only medical officer onboard the USS Henrico (APA-45) during the Korean War. He remained aboard the USS Henrico transporting troops in Korea, supporting amphibious landings at Inchon and Wonsan, and aiding the evacuation of the Army and the US Marines from North Korea at Hungnam in December 1950. He was discharged to inactive reserve as a full Lieutenant MC in September 1951 and remained in the Naval Reserves until 1958. Teaching was a very important part of Dr. Hall’s medical career. He was an Instructor of Surgery at Vanderbilt University (1952-1957) and an Instructor of Surgery at the Medical College of Georgia (1957-1960.) Dr. Hall was an Assistant Professor of Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery at the Medical College of Georgia (1960-1965) and Assistant Professor of Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga Division (1977-2003). Dr. Hall authored or coauthored more than 100 publications throughout his career. In May of 1965, Dr. Hall left the Medical College of Georgia and moved to Chattanooga, TN to join The Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Dr. Hall performed the first coronary artery bypass graft surgery in Chattanooga. He retired from his surgical career in 1990 but continued to work in the Family Practice Clinics and Cardiac Rehab associated with Hutcheson Medical Center until his retirement in December 2013 at the age of 89. Dr. David Hall had hospital appointments at Erlanger Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, Parkridge Hospital, TC Thompson Children’s Hospital and Hutcheson Medical Center. He was Chief of Staff at Erlanger Medical Center (1979-1980). Dr. Hall served on the Board of Trustees of Parkridge Hospital (1980-1982), Chattanooga Hamilton County Hospital Authority (1984-1988, Chairman 1988), Walker, Dade, Catoosa Hospital Authority (1992-1996), Hutcheson Medical Center (1994-2003, Chairman 2000-2001), Hutcheson Medical Center Foundation (1998-2003), and the Baroness Foundation of Erlanger Medical Center. In 2008, Dr. Hall was honored by The Baroness Erlanger Foundation as a Distinguished Physician. Dr. Hall had many interests outside of medicine. He was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman. He played tennis and loved snow skiing. David also enjoyed fishing, hiking, and canoeing through the United States and Canada. However, his passion was raising thoroughbred horses. Several of his horses won first place at racing tracks around the United States. David Parks Hall was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Elizabeth Elder Hall and Burl Freeman Hall; his sister, June Elder Hall Jewell; nephew, Bryan Dunbar Jewell. Dr. Hall is survived by his nieces Betts (Charlie) Berry and Irene (Jim) Staub and his nephew Houston (Lynn) Jewell and his great-nieces and great-nephews who consider him their grandfather (Bumpa): David (Emi) Berry, Will (Ashley) Berry, Sara (Seth) Cathy, Caroline Jewell, Corey (Kayla) Jewell, Daniel (Erica) Staub and Joseph (Milner) Staub. He is also survived by 13 great-great nieces and nephews. Funeral Service will be at 2:00 on Monday, May 15, 2023 in the Chickamauga chapel of Wilson Funeral Homes with Reverend Zach Fitzpatrick officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 2:00 prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Chickamauga City Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to the charity of your choice or to Elizabeth Lee Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 126,Chickamauga, Ga. 30707.

Dr. David Parks Hall

December 23, 1924 - May 10, 2023