Jonathan Evans Rhoads (May 9, 1907 – January 2, 2002) was an American surgeon, responsible for the development of total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

His father, Edward, was a physician in Philadelphia, who had interned under Sir William Osler at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP).

[1] An accomplished athlete, he was a track and field star at Haverford, undefeated as a pole-vaulter in intercollegiate competition; during a college summer vacation, he swam the Bosporus between Europe and Asia.

During World War II, after the director went to Burma to command a hospital unit, he was left in charge of an undermanned surgical service, which included a young C. Everett Koop.

TPN is a lifesaving mainstay of therapy for a great proportion of the most critically ill patients in hospitals worldwide and amounts to one of the most significant developments in the history of surgery.

He made contributions in multiple other areas, including shock, burn, coagulation disorders and the use of sulfa to treat infections.

[2] Rhoads was described as a Renaissance man, "preternatural student, physician, surgeon, teacher, scientist, investigator, innovator, advisor, [and] role model.

"[9] He stopped operating at age 80 but never retired, refusing emeritus status and remaining active until two weeks before he died at 94 from stomach cancer.