Dr. Bridges completed his medical residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital and his fellowship training in Hematology-Oncology at Brigham and Women's Hospital (formerly Peter Bent Brigham Hospital). Following a three year research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Bridges was appointed to the medical staff of Brigham and Women's Hospital.

For most of his career, Dr. Bridges has worked on basic aspects of iron metabolism. He has focused on the mechanism by which cells take up and use iron. He was involved in the early characterization of the cellular biological mechanisms regulating the transferrin receptor, a key protein in cellular iron uptake. Dr. Bridges has also worked extensively on the cellular regulation of ferritin, the protein primarily responsible for detoxification of iron within cells.

Dr. Bridges' clinical activities cover the gamut of hematological disorders, both benign and malignant. His primary focus is on patients with disorders affecting red blood cells, including sickle cell disease and thalassemia. Dr. Bridges' expertise in iron metabolism is particularly apropos to patients with thalassemia where iron overload currently is the major problem, and, of course, patients with hereditary hemochromatosis.

In recognition of his contributions to medical research, Dr. Bridges was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation. He has served on a number of advisory committees and panels for the National Institutes of Health, and is the past chairperson of the Sickle Cell Disease Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Dr. Bridges is a former member of the Scientic Subcommittee on Heme and Iron of the American Society of Hematology. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee on Hemochromatosis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Bridges has authored over 70 scientific papers and book chapters, primarily on iron metabolism and hemoglobin disorders.