Richard Neubauer

Dr. Richard Neubauer, 61, longtime Anchorage physician, died Monday, October 31, 2011, at home in Stuckagain with his family by his side. He died from complications of primary amyloidosis, a disease he had struggled with for almost ten years.

Rich was born on February 11, 1950, to Sam and Gertrude Neubauer in Queens, N.Y. where he spent his childhood. He attended Cornell University and received a B.S. with honors in 1972. During his years at Cornell, he served on the staff of the Cornell Daily Sun, including one year as Managing Editor. He formed lifelong friendships at the Sun and claimed his "work at the Sun was the best education I ever received". Rich attended Yale University School of Medicine where he graduated in 1976 with AOA honors. He married Eleanor Ryan that same year after moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Rich completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Michigan. He was board certified in Internal Medicine. From 1979 to 1981, Rich worked at the Indian Health Service Clinic, one year as Clinical Director, on the Wind River Reservation at Fort Washakie, WY. He loved his time serving the Arapahoe and Shoshone Nations. On the reservation Rich took up his lifelong passion for fly-fishing.

In 1981 he moved to Alaska, where he entered private practice as an internal medicine physician. After 25 years in private practice he joined the staff at Alaska Native Medical Center as Chief of Internal Medicine. From 2010-2011 he was the founder and medical director of the Providence Senior Care Center. Throughout his medical career Dr. Neubauer was a dedicated internist with great compassion for his patients and a strong commitment to ensuring access to health care for everyone. A former governor of the Alaska Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP), Dr. Neubauer was a member of the Board of Regents for the ACP. As a Regent he chaired the Health and Public Policy committee. Dr. Neubauer was an ardent proponent for the affordable health care act and for a patient centered approach to medicine. Rich was a recipient of the Alaska ACP Laureate Award and the National ACP Distinguished Service Award. In 2011, he was awarded the infrequently bestowed title Master of the American College of Physicians. He was also honored by UAA in 2011 with a Meritorious Service Award.

After being diagnosed and treated with a peripheral blood stem cell transplant in 2002, Rich began to incorporate his own experiences into his professional writing and speaking. In 2008 he convened a conference on the "Physician as Patient" to explore the unique benefits and challenges of this relationship. Rich's contributions to medical education in Alaska were unparalleled, and he was very active in efforts to improve the U.S. medical care system for all.

In addition to his devotion to medicine he had many hobbies and interests. His favorite activities were alpine ski racing, telemark skiing, bicycling, fly-fishing, building and flying remote control airplanes, gardening, photography, backpacking, rafting, and scuba diving. Rich was also interested in politics and was a lifelong Democrat.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Elle; his son Julian Neubauer and daughter Erin Neubauer of Vail, CO; his sister Wendy Gemus of Randolph, N.J.; and his American Field Service exchange student son Paolo Bettinelli, of Bergamo, Italy; a large extended family; and his canine companions, Pearl and Samantha.

The family wishes to thank all the doctors, nurses, colleagues, neighbors, friends and family who supported Rich during his long and courageous struggle to lead a happy, normal life in the face of a debilitating illness.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Alaska Chapter, ACP Education Fund. C/O Robert Bundtzen M.D., Alaska Chapter Governor, 9420 Southwind Cr., Anchorage, AK 99507.

A celebration of his life and vocation will be held on Saturday, November 12, at 11am in the Providence-Alaska East and West Auditoriums.