Dr. Dexter W. Shurney, a transformative leader in lifestyle medicine and longtime resident of Grants Pass, Oregon, passed away on December 1, 2025, at the age of 67. His sudden departure has left an indelible void in the medical community, among his colleagues, and within the family he cherished deeply.
A native of the South, Dr. Shurney earned his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in 1983, followed by advanced degrees in public health and business administration.
Board-certified in both preventive medicine and lifestyle medicine, he rose to national prominence through senior roles at Vanderbilt University, Adventist Health, and the Blue Zones Project, where he served as Chief Medical Officer. In 2018 he was elected President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, guiding the organization during a pivotal period of growth and recognition.
Dr. Shurney was instrumental in establishing lifestyle medicine as a formal specialty, co-founding the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and championing evidence-based interventions centered on nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and social connection. His work consistently focused on health equity, bringing proven wellness programs to underserved communities and corporate employee populations alike.
In Grants Pass, where he and his wife settled to be closer to nature and family, Dr. Shurney remained actively engaged in local healthcare initiatives while mentoring young physicians. He was known for hosting informal dinners where clinical expertise mingled with warm conversation and plant-based meals from his own garden.
Outside of medicine, he found peace fly-fishing on the Rogue River, hiking the Illinois Valley trails with his children and grandchildren, and studying longevity practices from Blue Zones regions around the world. These pursuits were not mere recreation; they embodied the very principles he taught patients and peers for four decades.
Dr. Dexter W. Shurney is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and a global network of clinicians whose practices—and whose patients’ lives—are healthier because of his vision. Though gone at 67, his framework for preventive, compassionate care will continue to save and extend lives for generations to come.
