The UNC School of Medicine community and all who knew and appreciated Dr. Jim Bryan are welcome to attend a virtual memorial service in his honor, January 23 at 11 am. Details can be found in this post in the UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine Newsroom.
(Friday, January 8, 2021) – It is with a heavy heart that we share with you news of the passing of Dr. Jim Bryan, a giant in the field of medicine who spent fifty years on the faculty of the UNC School of Medicine.
During his time as a physician and leader at UNC, Dr. Bryan set an example of humane and compassionate care that made him legendary and beloved at the university, in the community, and across the state. As one of his former colleagues said, “Dr. Bryan was the Bill Friday of medical practice and education in North Carolina.”
Dr. Bryan taught and inspired thousands of medical students and resident physicians. Renowned for his personal style of care and passionate commitment as a patient advocate, he set an incredible example of what patient-centered care could be through his careful attention to his own patients, often making phone calls and writing letters on behalf of his patients and making house calls to the very end of his decades-long career in 2014.
Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Bryan was influential in bringing hospice care to North Carolina, as part of a small group of advocates who helped establish a model for palliative care here. Within a few years, hospice care was available at locations throughout the state. And in 2017, the SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice Home of UNC Health opened in Chatham County.
We will all miss Dr. Bryan immensely, but as a close colleague of his said today, “People like Jim Bryan never die in our hearts.”
Next week, we will share with the UNC School of Medicine community more information about Dr. Bryan’s legacy and memorial arrangements.