By Jenese Harris • News4Jax.com
UF Health Jacksonville CEO Dr. Leon Haley Jr. died July 24 after he was thrown from a personal watercraft in the Palm Beach Inlet, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said July 25.
Haley, 56, was found in the water wearing a life jacket, the FWC said. He was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he died.
Here is the full statement released by FWC:
“On Saturday, July 24, at 10:33 am, FWC responded to the report of a personal watercraft (PWC) incident at the Palm Beach Inlet, South jetty, involving a 2021 10′ Yamaha PWC, operated by Leon Leroy Haley, DOB 11/06/1964, of Jacksonville. Dr. Haley was ejected from the watercraft and was located in the water wearing a life jacket. Dr. Haley was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach, where he was confirmed deceased as a result of injuries sustained in this incident. All of the members of the FWC want to express our sincere sympathies to Dr. Haley’s family, friends and his colleagues at the University of Florida Health Jacksonville. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them.”
The head of UF Health in Jacksonville and Gainesville released a statement July 25 saying Haley was a great leader, person and friend.
“Dr. Haley was such an incredible leader and colleague to all of us at UF Health, but he was also a good friend to so many, an amazing advocate for equality in health care, and most importantly a man of integrity who always wanted to do the right thing,” said David R. Nelson, senior vice president for health affairs and president of UF Health.
“This is not only a tremendous loss to Dr. Haley’s family, friends and the people he led at UF, but also to our communities in North Florida and elsewhere around the country. His leadership and friendship will be missed, but we will come together and continue his vision.”
Haley was one of the key faces in the fight against COVID-19 in Jacksonville.
In mid-December, he was the first person in Jacksonville to receive the Pfizer vaccine, setting an example for his staff and the rest of the city.
Haley, who served as the dean of the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville, became the first Black CEO of UF Health Jacksonville in January 2018. He was also vice president of health affairs at the University of Florida.