Identical twin physicians Travan and Travis Jasper have taken on a new role as co-directors of the emergency department at Chippenham Hospital, a 466-bed Level 1 trauma center in Richmond, Virginia. The brothers, who grew up in the city, returned home after spending years working in hospitals in Georgia, where they also served as emergency department co-directors. Their story has drawn coverage from ABC News, the Washington Post, and CBS Evening News.
Growing up without much money or running water, the twins were the first in their family to attend college. Their path to medicine began at age 12, when their uncle was hospitalized with liver failure and treated dismissively by a doctor. The brothers said they decided in that hospital hallway that they would become doctors to provide better care for their community. They went on to graduate as co-valedictorians of their high school class, attend Stanford for undergraduate studies, earn medical degrees from the University of Chicago, and complete emergency medicine residencies at the University of Michigan.
To help patients and colleagues distinguish between them, Travan wears purple scrubs and Travis wears green, and they work different shifts. Chippenham Hospital CEO Lance Jones called the brothers an asset, saying their commitment to clinical excellence, collaboration, and compassionate care reflects the hospital's mission. The Jaspers have also reached out to people from their childhood, inviting them to come to Chippenham for emergency care.