In 1907, Hugh Trout Sr. founded a small, 40-bed facility in Roanoke, Virginia named Jefferson Hospital.
At about the same time, James Newton Lewis and Sparrell Simmons Gale founded Lewis-Gale Hospital.
In 1980, a task force was commissioned to determine the feasibility of creating a hospital-based college that would grant 2-year degrees in nursing and allied health.
Prior to its implementation, a contest was held campus-wide during which students, faculty and staff were invited to submit ideas for a mascot.
The mascot then underwent some last minute polishing and was introduced at the College's first annual Spirit Day event in January 2008.
At the same time, the official mascot logo was introduced with a graphic version of Jeff sprinting over the words, "Jefferson Blue Healers."
His primary name, "Jeff," is a shortened version of Jefferson, creating a link between the mascot and the school he represents.