Grandmother, healthcare leader, scuba enthusiast

Jennifer L. Jackman, a devoted mother, grandmother, accomplished healthcare executive and generous member of her community, died unexpectedly while scuba diving in the waters of Fiji. She lived a life defined by generosity, commitment, curiosity, and a deep love for family, friends, and shared experiences.

Jennifer, a lifetime resident of Claremont, attended local schools in the same district where her parents were educators. As an only child for many years, she cultivated an ambitious and self-reliant spirit, while later sharing a close and lasting bond with her younger sister, Jessica. Her childhood was filled with family road trips, camping, hiking, and a love of the arts. As her family grew through divorce and remarriage, she embraced a large extended family that included several stepbrothers and stepsisters and their spouses. This gave her the chance to become a beloved aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Motivated and self-directed, she graduated early from Claremont High School and began her college education while simultaneously working. She attended University of La Verne, earning her bachelor’s degree in business administration. It was there that she met Doug Millmore. The two married, built their lives together in Upland, and welcomed their only child, Devon (Millmore) Prophet.

She had an extensive career as a healthcare leader in California, joining Bright Medical Associates in Whittier early on. She quickly grew into a respected executive by accepting greater responsibilities and demonstrating a sharp acumen for medical group operations. This led to the group’s growth and eventual merger with Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, which ultimately became PIH Health. She became the inaugural Chief Executive Officer for PIH Health Medical Foundation, leading the organization to expand into a full service multi-specialty group caring for more than 60,000 patients in the San Gabriel Valley.

After many years at Bright Medical Group | PIH Health, she returned to college, earning her graduate degree in healthcare ethics from Creighton University. She moved into new leadership roles over the years with multiple well respected medical delivery organizations, including Monarch Healthcare | OPTUM, MemorialCare Medical Foundation, and Edinger Medical Group. During her tenure at all these companies, she was the respective organization’s executive representative at American’s Physician Group, the only trade association representing physician directed healthcare, often serving in board leadership positions. Her passion for physician directed healthcare was deep, and she pursued her passion further by joining APG in 2019, eventually becoming its chief operations officer. At APG she was able to share her vast knowledge of physician group operations and physician directed care nationally. “During her entire career, Jennifer was a respected, distinguished and fearless leader known for championing physician directed health care,” her colleagues shared.

She was not just a highly skilled executive that worked in the healthcare industry generally; she was a passionate pioneer of team-based care that allowed physicians to be responsible for the cost and quality of care for both individuals and whole populations. Her higher ambitions won her the respect and admiration of countless physicians as it helped move the needle of the evolution of American healthcare.

She was passionate about family, charity, baseball, worldwide travel, and scuba diving. She deeply cherished her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, finding her greatest joy in the time they spent together. She loved playing games with her young granddaughter and creating special memories through travel, family gatherings, celebrations, and shared experiences. Her unwavering support, generosity, and love were at the heart of the close relationships she shared with her family.

She was a longtime supporter of charitable causes and a generous patron of Center Theatre Group, often attending performances with her mom, Carole, family, and friends. She was a faithful donor to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and a devoted Dodger fan. She loved attending games and gifting tickets to family and friends, creating exciting and memorable experiences for all. She especially treasured sharing her passion for Dodgers baseball with her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, attending multiple World Series games as a family.

Enjoying the surreal connection to nature, scuba diving was a way for her to see life from another dimension. She loved to share her underwater experiences with her dive buddies, many of whom were avid divers and included her closest friend and colleague, Kathleen Barry, and her second husband, John Hott, whom she married in a unique underwater ceremony. She generously shared her love of diving with her family, often treating and empowering her nieces and nephews to become the next generation of certified divers.

Education was important to her, and she stayed intricately connected to her high school graduating class and supportive of Claremont Schools throughout her life. At home, she adored her two golden retrievers, whom she often showcased on her annual holiday cards. The holidays brought her joy, especially hosting family baking days in her specially designed baker’s kitchen, sharing her well-loved homemade pies, and crocheting blankets for the babies of family and friends. “These thoughtful traditions reflected the warm-heartedness, selfless generosity and care Jennifer shared with everyone around her,” her family said. “She lived fully, loved deeply, and gave generously. Hers was truly a life of purpose, impact, and extraordinary heart.”

She leaves behind many family members, including her daughter and son-in-law, Devon and Mason Prophet; granddaughter Emmerson; mother, Carole J. Harter; her sister and brother-in-law, Jessica and Allan Uy; niece, Juliette; extended family, and many dear friends and colleagues.

For celebration of life details and information about charitable donations made in her memory, please visit everloved.com/life-of/jennifer-jackman.