This fund was established by J. Crayton Pruitt and his family to further advance the research and work of junior faculty members in the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering. The Pruitt Fellowship is awarded to three deserving junior faculty members in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Pruitt was born on November 23, 1931. After graduating from St. Petersburg High School, Pruitt received his bachelor’s degree and his medical degree from Emory University. He completed his residency in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem, NC in 1963. As a St. Petersburg surgeon, he devoted his career to the treatment of stroke and pioneered the surgical treatment of carotid artery arteriosclerosis for the prevention of stroke. Pruitt was also part owner of Ideas for Medicine, a manufacturer of medical and surgical products. He enjoys real estate, agriculture and flying.

J. Crayton Pruitt passed away on October 8, 2011.