Tuesday, 18 April 2023 08:00 AM
Company Update
Pioneer of Urgent Care Passes Away at age 73 in Birmingham, Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, AL / ACCESSWIRE / April 18, 2023 / It is with deep sadness that American Family Care (AFC), the nation's leading provider of accessible primary care, urgent care, and occupational medicine, announces the passing of Donald Bruce Irwin, MD, Founder and CEO. Irwin passed away peacefully on April 14th following a sudden illness. He was 73 years old.
"Dr. Irwin was a visionary leader and pioneer of accessible primary care and urgent care who dedicated his life to improving access to quality healthcare," said Randy Johansen, President of AFC. "No words can express our sadness about his death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. Dr. Irwin's legacy will continue to live on through the work we do every day, and we will be diligent in carrying forward the mission of American Family Care."
Dr. Irwin's passion for medicine started at a very early age. In 1949, his father was injured in a railroad accident and used a wheelchair for the rest of his life. As a young man, Bruce helped care for his father and would accompany him on many doctor's visits. After his dad became allergic to penicillin and reacted badly, Bruce told his family that he would become a doctor.
Although the Irwin family grew up extremely poor in central Alabama, young Bruce accessed scholarship funding to attend Birmingham-Southern College as an undergraduate, then the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine.
He went on to work as an emergency room physician, where he realized many of his patients could be cared for with more efficiency and convenience. During his downtime in the emergency room, he started sketching out the present-day concept for American Family Care: a stand-alone medical facility equipped and staffed like an emergency room, located in neighborhoods across America, with extended hours and no need for appointments.
In 1982, Dr. Irwin opened the first American Family Care in Hoover, Alabama, followed by dozens of other locations statewide. AFC launched its franchise model in 2013 when the company acquired, and subsequently rebranded, a national urgent care franchise called Doctor's Express. Today, the AFC healthcare network encompasses more than 300 locations across 30 states. Starting in Birmingham and still headquartered there today, American Family Care stands as a testament to Dr. Irwin's belief in the city's potential, and he was always proud to have built such a successful healthcare organization in his hometown.
"From day one, Dr. Irwin's mission was to provide high-quality healthcare services to our patients and communities," explained Joe Hawley, Chief Financial Officer of AFC who has worked alongside Dr. Irwin for more than 30 years. "Our dedicated leadership team at AFC is committed to carrying on his life mission and is prepared for business continuity and uninterrupted service as we deal with his sudden loss."
Dr. Irwin is survived by his wife Carla; his children DB Irwin, China de Marignac (Charles-Henri) and Ian Irwin; step-daughters Taylor Cargal (Keith), Morgan Simmons (Craig), and Sloane Drumm (Robert); grandchildren Holland Irwin, Pandora de Marignac, Grayson and Gaines Badyrka, Collins and Lawson Cargal, and Amelia and Redding Drumm; sisters Priscilla McCain (Jerry) and Lila Talley (William); as well as a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents Cora and Bruce Irwin, and sisters Dee Evans, Linda Murray and Anita LaGroue (Ed).
To honor the life and legacy of Dr. Irwin, services will be held this Saturday, April 22nd, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham, AL. Visitation begins at 2pm CST followed by funeral services at 3 pm.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Nancy Bostrom, [email protected], 919.459.8163
Sue Yannello, [email protected], 919.459.8162
About American Family Care:
Founded by Dr. Bruce Irwin with a single location in 1982, American Family Care has pioneered the concept of convenient, patient-centric healthcare. Today, with more than 300 clinics and 1,500 in-network providers caring for nearly 6 million patients a year, AFC is the nation's leading provider of accessible primary care, urgent care, and occupational medicine. Ranked by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S., AFC's stated mission is to provide the best healthcare possible, in a kind and caring environment, while respecting the rights of all patients, in an economical manner, at times and locations convenient to the patient. For more information, visit AmericanFamilyCare.com.
SOURCE: American Family Care
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