In Honor Of
Dr. John S. Chaffin
A fund established to carry forward his life’s work — healing hearts and training the next generation of physicians.
In Honor Of
A fund established to carry forward his life’s work — healing hearts and training the next generation of physicians.
Dr. John S. Chaffin dedicated 45 years to cardio-thoracic surgery at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. Over the course of his career he performed more than 38,000 heart, lung, and vascular procedures — including 660 heart transplants, 444 lung transplants, and 687 mechanical support device implants.
He was known above all as a physician who refused to give up. He took the cases others would not. He found solutions where others saw dead ends. When he passed suddenly on October 5, 2024, his family, colleagues, and the thousands of patients whose lives he transformed were left with a profound sense of loss — and a deep desire to honor what he stood for.
The Dr. John S. Chaffin Memorial Fund was created to ensure that his spirit of hope and expert care lives on — not in stone, but in the next generation of physicians he helps to train.
Dr. Chaffin in his element — the operating room at Integris Baptist Medical Center
“He knew how to make things work when others had given up.”
The Dr. John S. Chaffin Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to provide direct financial support to OU medical students. It is the family’s hope that this fund will be integral to building a new group of young physicians prepared to usher in the latest developments in medical care — carrying forward exactly the kind of expert, compassionate care Dr. Chaffin provided for 45 years.
The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine is training the next generation of physicians who will care for Oklahomans, and the need has never been greater. Oklahoma currently ranks 47th in the nation in health outcomes and 48th in active physicians per capita — making the work of these students not just a career path, but essential to quality Oklahoma healthcare.
Each year, approximately 165 students are admitted to OU’s Doctor of Medicine program across its Oklahoma City and Tulsa campuses. For those drawn to cardiovascular medicine, OU offers one of the most comprehensive cardiac programs in the region, with ACGME-accredited fellowships in cardiovascular diseases, clinical electrophysiology, and interventional cardiology.
Four years of medical school at OU costs approximately $281,000 for Oklahoma residents. Medical school demands everything a student has to give. By reducing the weight of student debt, the Dr. John S. Chaffin Memorial Scholarship Fund helps ensure financial stress doesn’t compete with the energy, focus, and dedication that becoming a great physician requires.
The fund is held and managed by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, a trusted steward of philanthropic giving in central Oklahoma for nearly 60 years. OCCF ensures that contributions are invested responsibly and distributed with care — so that every gift does exactly what it was meant to do: open doors for the next generation of Oklahoma’s physicians.
Supporting the next generation of physicians at the University of Oklahoma with the resources they need to master the most current advances in medicine and patient care.
Dr. Chaffin used his time on earth to help patients extend and remake their lives. This fund ensures that spirit of dedication continues in every physician it helps to train.
Your gift supports medical education at the University of Oklahoma in Dr. Chaffin’s name — helping train the next generation of physicians.
Founded in 1969, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation (OCCF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity that works with individuals, families, and organizations to benefit our community now and in the future. OCCF is Oklahoma’s largest independent scholarship provider, managing 300+ scholarship funds that award $5M to 1,100+ students annually. To learn more, visit occf.org.
Additional Ways to Give
Cash contributions may also be made in the form of cash, check, money order, or cashier’s check.
Mail to or Visit
Oklahoma City Community Foundation
1000 N. Broadway Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Please include “Dr. John S. Chaffin Memorial Scholarship Fund” in the memo line.
Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
To learn about additional ways to give, visit occf.org/giving/gifts-we-accept.
All contributions support the University of Oklahoma medical education fund in Dr. Chaffin’s name. A receipt will be provided for tax purposes.
Terre Chaffin
Oklahoma City Community Foundation