Jay K. Morgan was born April 23,1958 in Columbus, Ohio. His father, James, was a family practice physician, and his mother Vesta, was an educator and vocalist. Jay attended the Columbus Academy from the 5th to 12th grades, and subsequently attended The Ohio State University attaining both a BA in chemistry and his MD from the Medical School, graduating in 1980.

In the first two years of medical school, Jay was awarded a Roessler Research fellowship and worked in the Neuroanatomy lab of Dr. James King and Georgia Bishop. Many late nights were spent during the first summer in the neurophysiology lab. He also worked nights and weekends at the Franklin County Morgue. More importantly, during this time, Jay and Sherry started their 40-year friendship, and were married during Jay’s junior year. They were blessed with their first son Jayson Allen in June 1983.

In 1984, Jay started an internship at the University Hospitals in Cleveland. He spent 4 of his 12 months in a neurosurgery rotation at the Cleveland Metro Health Medical Center with Dr. Robert White. The rotation was every other night with either the Chief Resident, Robert Fenstermaker, or Junior Resident, Scott Erwood. Hooked on neurosurgery, Jay applied and matched at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit Michigan. In February 1985, Jay and Sherry welcomed their second son, Justin James Scott.

The Neurosurgical Service at Henry Ford Hospital in Downtown Detroit was exceptionally busy. James Ausman, MD ran a tight ship, but the residents had phenomenal surgeons to learn from including Ghaus Malik, MD and Fernando Diaz, MD Robert Tiel, MD, and Jack Rock, MD the current chairman. Jay’s training was augmented by time spent with Ed Oldfield, MD at the National Institutes of Health as a clinical fellow. He worked in Rob Plunkett’s lab concentrating on implant properties of fetal tissue. After a final chief year, Jay stayed on at HFH as junior faculty with an interest in cerebrovascular surgery. The day after Jay graduated, Jay and Sherry’s third son, Austin Martyn, was born in December 1990.

In 1993, a former co-resident, Dante Vacca, made Jay an offer he couldn’t refuse. Dante, as well as Western Neurosurgical Society members Bill Dawson and Joe Walker, welcomed the Morgans’ to Reno, Nevada. Sierra Neurosurgery Group was the only group in the region at that time and offered excellent growth opportunities. Jay did extend his training in spine with a mini fellowship with Rick Sasso, MD in the mid 1990’s and changed the way spine surgery was practiced in Reno. He has been Managing Partner at SNG several times and has been Chief of Neurosurgery both at Washoe Medical Center (now Renown Regional Medical Center) and Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. He has been Chief of Surgery at Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center. He is currently Chief of the Spine Section at Renown Regional Medical Center.

Jay has been involved in organized medicine at the county, state, and regional levels. He is currently past President of the Washoe County Medical Society and Treasurer of the Nevada State Medical Society. He has been a member of the Western Neurosurgical Society since 1988, serving as Vice President in 2019.

Jay and Sherry found Reno to be a great place to raise their three sons and launch them on individual carrier paths. Jayson is currently a cardiologist at Renown Regional Medical Center and is Chief of Cardiovascular Services in Reno. Justin is a partner in Wood and Morgan law firm working with dentists and physicians in setting up their practices in Los Angeles. Austin is a Senior Associate at Graham Street Realty in San Francisco with property interest in the Bay Area, Phoenix, and Denver.

Jay enjoys scuba diving, photography, and spending time with his granddaughters Emerie and Arelyn.