John Barrett, MD, has been appointed to the George D. Gross, MD, and Ester S. Gross, MD, Presidential Endowed Chair at the University of Utah’s Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.
“I’m grateful to be in this position. It’s an honor for the department leadership to give me this opportunity,” said Barrett. “I feel evermore connected to the mission of family medicine and primary care.”
Established in June 2002, the endowed chair supports research into the causes, treatments, and prevention of diseases associated with family medicine. Named in honor of Drs. George and Ester Gross, who dedicated their lives to caring for patients regardless of circumstance, the endowment reflects their legacy of service and compassion. For more than 40 years, the Grosses served Salt Lake City, Utah, through their joint practice. The chair also provides resources for the recipient to expand community-based programs that aim to improve health.
Barrett emphasized that this endowment continues to do the work the Grosses began. “What they were doing in the community for their patients—we need to continue that type of work at scale,” he said. “I’m excited about the interface between family medicine and public health and what we can do for communities and populations.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Barrett hopes the legacy of Drs. George and Ester Gross lives on through this endowed chair and the ongoing mission of family medicine: to provide primary care and promote wellness. “We need to focus on what we can do for our community,” he said. “I think that’s the impact we should all hope to have in family medicine.”
Dr. Barrett will hold the endowed chair for a five-year term concluding on June 30, 2030.
