Dr. Raymond Jarris Leaves a Legacy of Commitment and Compassion in Providing Expert Maritime Medicine at Sea

Dr. Raymond Jarris

Dr. Raymond Jarris, who has been working with Foss and treating the company’s employees for more than 20 years, died peacefully in Seattle on April 13. A respected physician and entrepreneur, he was medical director of the Swedish Medical Center Emergency Department in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. Dr. Jarris was 62.

For Foss, Dr. Jarris provided emergency, occupational and maritme health services through Swedish, Discovery Health and MD Solutions International, which he founded

Dr. Jarris and his widow, Dr. Ann Jarris, offered comprehensive medical services to remote worksites and tugs and other vessels at sea. An obituary in the Seattle Times newspaper said “Dr. Ray,” as he was known, had “a love of boating and a passion for helping others (that) led him to become the global expert in maritime medicine.”

Born in New York, he received his medical and master’s degrees from Boston University and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Washington. He served as a captain in the U.S. Public Health Service Reserve and was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Public Health Service/Indian Health Service as clinical director of the Taholah Indian Health Center.

In an email informing Foss employees of Dr. Jarris’ death, Human Resources Director Lisa Sulock wrote, “On behalf of all of us here at Foss, our most heartfelt condolences and sympathy to Ray’s family. Dr. Ann Jarris will continue Ray’s work, providing maritime services with the same commitment and compassion.”