Home / Health / Trucker Health Advocate Dr. John McElligott Dies at 80
Trucker Health Advocate Dr. John McElligott Dies at 80
17 Feb
Summary
- Dedicated over 30 years to improving truck driver health and financial stability.
- The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund aided over 5,000 drivers with $5 million.
- Established a career fund for vocational students, prioritizing veterans.
Dr. John McElligott, a dedicated physician and Navy veteran, has died at the age of 80. For over thirty years, he committed himself to enhancing the health and financial stability of truck drivers across America. His tireless efforts included co-founding the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, which has disbursed more than $5 million to drivers facing illness or injury.
McElligott was widely recognized for his advocacy, earning a place on the Mid-America Trucking Show Wall of Fame in 2023. He also received the East Tennessee Healthcare Hero Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. His commitment extended to nurturing future talent through the Water in Midland Career Fund, supporting vocational and technical students, particularly veterans.
His career began after serving as a Navy Corpsman in Vietnam. He pursued a path in medicine, graduating with honors from Duke University's Physician Assistant Program and later completing medical school and residency at Yale Griffin Hospital. McElligott was a board-certified internal medicine physician and a respected voice for occupational health in the trucking industry.
