Ernest Edward Irons (February 17, 1877 – January 18, 1959) was an American physician who led several prominent medical organizations.

Working as an intern under physician James B. Herrick, he identified abnormalities on a blood smear that resulted in the first published report of sickle cell disease.

[4] As a 27-year-old medical intern, Irons was working at Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago with James B. Herrick, who ran a hematology clinic.

[9] In the same year, Irons explained to The Literary Digest that Army hospitals were teaching technical skills to wounded soldiers.

Irons said that even after wounds healed, a soldier remained stiff and that learning technical skills helped to rebuild his strength during the recovery process.

[11] The Chicago Tribune credited Irons with greatly improving the services, outcomes and morale at the MTS, noting that the mortality rate fell and that the center's waiting list was able to be eliminated.

[16] Irons and the AMA strongly opposed President Truman's proposal for a national health plan, referring to it as socialized medicine and drawing parallels to Communism.

[18] He later voiced his opposition to federal funding of both higher education and healthcare, saying, "Every subsidy carries with it the threat of regulation, despite any disclaimer of previous intent.

[19] In the 1950s, Irons published a book, The Story of Rush Medical College, and he started work on a history of Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital.