Jackson Health System's 2018-2019 Report to the Community.
A Young Physician Starts A Legacy
After the winter of 1895 destroyed Florida's citrus crops, young Dr. James M. Jackson left his hometown of Bronson, Florida, to start a new job as the Florida East Coast Railroad surgeon for the railroad station in Miami. Disappointed with the dirt streets, shacks, and tents that he saw, he quickly made his way back to the docks to catch the next boat out of town. However, with no scheduled transportation for a few days, Dr. Jackson booked a room in the Miami Hotel to wait.
It was during those few days that he met several of Miami's enthusiastic pioneers, and quickly became infatuated with the town's spirit and potential. In a letter, he wrote to his wife, "This Miami spirit is a great thing. It is infectious."
He then decided to settle down and be Miami's physician.
On June 25, 1918, the new Miami City Hospital opened its doors to the community in the midst of a deadly influenza epidemic.
As a physician and community leader, Dr. Jackson helped Miami grow from a frontier village to a permanent community.
While practicing medicine and playing such an instrumental role in the construction and management of Miami City Hospital, Dr. Jackson remained one of Miami's most prominent civic leaders. He was the first president of the Miami Rotary Club, president of the Dade County Medical Society, member of the American Medical Association, a founder of the local YMCA, president of the state board of medical examiners, and chairman of the Bank of Bay Biscayne.
On April 2, 1924, Dr. Jackson died comfortably in his home at the age of 58. A few days later, the Miami City Commission voted to change the name of the 107-bed Miami City Hospital to The James M. Jackson Memorial Hospital.