Bridgham has served on the medical staff of Wolfson Children's Hospital for 16 years and on the medical staff of Baptist Medical Center South since its opening in 2005. He has been a partner in Mandarin Pediatric Associates since 1990.

"I am very excited that Jerry Bridgham is filling this key position," says Larry Freeman, administrator of Wolfson. "This is a very important time as Wolfson Children's Hospital develops it strategy for continuing to evolve as a regional referral center and planning for expansion. He has been a leader at Wolfson Children's Hospital for almost 10 years and has the background and experience for this vital role."

Baptist Health Chief Medical Officer Keith Stein, MD, agrees. "Dr. Bridgham has outstanding leadership qualities and a true compassion for children that make him a perfect fit for the chief medical officer position at Wolfson Children's Hospital," he says.

Bridgham has long been a leader at Wolfson Children's Hospital, serving chief of the section of general pediatrics from 1997-1998, chief of staff-elect from 2001- 2002, chief of staff from 2003-2004, and interim director of medical affairs since 2005. He currently serves on Wolfson's Perinatal Advisory Board, which he chaired from 1999-2000.

Bridgham received his medical degree from the University of Miami and completed his residency in pediatrics at the Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia. He is board-certified in pediatrics and is a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Bridgham served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and achieved the rank of lieutenant commander. Duty stations included Jacksonville, Portsmouth, Virginia, and Keflavik, Iceland. He received the Navy Achievement Medal during his active duty service from 1983 to 1990.

"In my role as a community pediatrician, I have worked with the leaders of Wolfson Children's Hospital, Baptist Health and other pediatric health care providers in Jacksonville for almost a decade," says Bridgham. "These are exciting times in pediatric health care and I am grateful for this opportunity to be a part of Wolfson's future as we expand services and programs to better serve children's medical and surgical needs."