Celebration of Life Set for Dr. James Jordan Monday, January 28

There will be a Celebration of Life Monday, January 28 at 10 a.m., at Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville, for Dr. James Emory (Jim) Jordan of Jessup, Maryland, who passed on January 9.

In 1969, Dr. Jordan became one of five original physicians to staff the Columbia Medical Plan (CMP), in the new city of Columbia. He served as Chief of OB/GYN from 1969 to 1985 and also as Chief, OB/GYN at Howard County General Hospital (1973-1978). Jordan also served as Medical Director of CMP and President of Patuxent Medical Group, the panel of physicians that provided care for CMP members (1974-1994). For three years, he concurrently served as Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical officer for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Maryland.

Dr. Jordan provided care to OB/GYN patients, some of them for over 20 years. At the end of his medical career, he said with a grin, “most of my patients are post-menopausal – and I am, too.” As he moved more into retirement, he stated he was not dropping out of medical care, “I won’t retire in that sense,” he said. “Maybe I can be an elder statesman. I still have strong ideas about wanting to promote medical quality throughout the whole enterprise.”

During Jordan’s tenure as CMP Medical Director, CMP became profitable for the first time and the plan wound up in the black every month from August 1991 until its closure.

In the 1990’s, on behalf of Johns Hopkins Hospital/Medical Institutions, Jordan travelled to South America and to Taiwan to teach the newly invented benefits of laparoscopic surgical procedures. Jordan also donated his time to providing GYN care to patients at Planned Parenthood clinics in Howard County.

In 1956, Jordan attended Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, completing an Internship and Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and finished as Chief Resident in OB/GYN in 1966. Jordan joined the practice of Drs. Everett and Long to begin his medical career, although one year later he was drafted by the U.S. Army and spent a 14-month tour of duty in Seoul, Korea, ending his overseas assignment as Chief of OB/GYN at Seoul U.S. Military Hospital, then returning to Ft. Meade to complete his military tour of duty.

A native of Macon, GA, Jordan graduated Lanier High School for Boys (1952). He graduated from Auburn University (1961).

Jordan was an ardent golfer (making two Holes-in-One in one round of golf), an avid reader, traveler and sports fan.

He is survived by his spouse of 49 years Rev. Kathy Church-Jordan, adult daughters Rachel (Doug) Jordan-Donahue and Jessie Jordan, granddaughters Isabelle and Lily Donahue, and sister Sydney (Buddy) Jordan-Melton. He was predeceased by brother Bobby Jordan (1961) and parents Sydney Jordan (2001) and Daisy Jordan (1995).

In memoriam donations may be made to Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 415 Park Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201 (www.friendsmdlbph.org)