William Gerald "Jerry" Cochran

William Gerald “Jerry” Cochran, M.D., passed peacefully at the Glenn A. Kiser Hospice House on Friday, November 15, 2024. Dr. Cochran was born on October 1, 1941 in Philadelphia, PA to William Howard Cochran (08/31/13-07/14/76) of Pageton, WV and to Elizabeth Cook (09/16/18-11/05/85) of Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Cochran graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia, PA in the class of 1959. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA in 1963. He received his medical doctorate from Temple University in 1967. From 1967-1968 he did his residency with the United States Public Health Service. From 1970-1973 he did his surgery residency with Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. From 1973-1975 he did his plastic surgery residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in Allentown, PA. He also received a Master’s in Public Healthcare, Healthcare Management and Administration, in 1999 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He practiced plastic surgery in Boston, MA from 1975-1986 where he was also an Associate Director and an Associate Clinical Professor at the Boston University School of Medicine. Jerry moved to Salisbury, NC in 1986 and opened the city’s first plastic surgery office. His plastic surgery practice served both Novant Health Rowan Medical Center in Salisbury, NC and he also had an office serving Davis Regional Medical Center in Statesville NC. He was also instrumental in the formation of wound care and the Novant Health Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center in Salisbury NC. He was also the Medical Director for MedCost LLC in Winston-Salem, NC. Dr. Cochran is survived by his spouse and partner of 36 years Timothy D. Gudger of Salisbury NC, first cousins, David Cook of Fairfax, VA, Gregory Cook of San Antonia, TX, and Barbara Cook Hellman of Mount Juliet, TN. Jerry’s laughter, generosity, and kindness will be missed. He loved travel, good food, and most important, the arts, especially the symphony. He moved to Salisbury, NC because they have a symphony orchestra. Keep this in mind when thinking about Jerry and in lieu of flowers or cards, donate generously to the Salisbury Symphony, Inc., PO Box 1828, Salisbury, NC 28145-1828. This was his passion, and donations would be greatly appreciated by him. A private Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Cochran family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

William Gerald "Jerry" Cochran

October 1, 1941 - November 15, 2024