Harry R. Jacobson, M.D.

At the age of four, Dr. Harry Jacobson’s family immigrated to the United States from Germany. After growing up in Chicago and completing medical school at the University of Illinois, Dr. Jacobson trained in medicine at Johns Hopkins and in nephrology at Texas Southwestern in Dallas, where he specialized in kidney failure and diseases. Following his training, he spent two years as a Major in the Army Medical Corp at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

After seven years as a faculty member at Texas Southwestern Medical, Dr. Jacobson moved his family to Nashville to join the Vanderbilt faculty. There, he was dedicated to growing Vanderbilt’s Nephrology Program, which went on to become one of the top 10 programs in the country. In 1997, after a dozen years building the program and launching what became one of the world’s largest and best quality dialysis companies, Renal Care Group, Dr. Jacobson was named Vanderbilt’s Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs.

During his tenure, the Medical Center’s budget grew more than 300%, became a top 10 funded research university and was named as a Fortune Magazine top 100 places to work. But Dr. Jacobson’s favorite achievement was the creation of the Monroe Carell, Jr.
Children’s Hospital.

Since retiring from Vanderbilt, Dr. Jacobson has focused on investing in and growing health care companies that impact the lives of millions of people. He is past chairman of the Nashville Health Care Council, has received the Crystal Leaf award given to recognize some of Nashville’s greatest health care leaders, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine and remains active with several non-pro t organizations including the American Red Cross and The Family Foundation Fund, Inc.

A health care executive, dedicated physician and decorated community leader, Dr. Harry Jacobson is a 2017 inductee of the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame.