Memorial physician passes away

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Hearts were heavy at Memorial Health on Monday.

Hundreds gathered at a special service at the Memorial campus to honor a physician, leader and friend.

Dr. Gage Ochsner Jr. died Friday morning at his home surrounded by family.

In 1994, Ochsner was recruited to come to Savannah to become chief of trauma and surgical critical care at Memorial University Medical Center.

Among his many positions - becoming a full professor of surgery; being  appointed as academic chairman of the Mercer University school of Medicine Department of Surgery; and establishing the Institute for Injury Research and Prevention.

Ochsner was 59 years old.

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