Dr. Fischer, First Chair of Department of Family Medicine Passed Away

A. Alan Fischer MD, a nationally known family physician, passed away at 5:10 a.m. on Thursday March 9, 2007 at 80 years of age in the loving arms of his wife and children.

Born on June 20, 1926 to Lida O. and Albert G. Fischer, he was a 1944 graduate of Washington High School and he served in the US Army Air Force during World War II, which he entered after already being an accomplished pilot. He learned to fly at a young age and was a private pilot throughout his life. Dr. Fischer met and married his wife, Beverly, while they were both attending Indiana University, and he went on to graduate from Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Fischer went into full time private family practice from 1952-1971.

In 1971, Dr. Fischer took a virtually non-existent Family Practice Program at IU Medical School and developed it into the Medical School’s first Family Practice Residency program. In 1974, the Department of Family Medicine was established and Dr. Fischer was named chairman. He served as chairman for 14 years and while there he helped develop programs taught during the first two years of medical school and recruited hundreds of family physicians to teach fourth year medical students. He was also an advisor and counselor to medical students and helped them form and achieve their career goals.

Dr. Fischer spent seven years in the 1960s, per request of Governor Matthew Welsh, cleaning up the licensure of the Indiana State Board of Beauty Culturists. For that he received the first of his many Sagamore of the Wabash awards.

In 1971 Dr. Fischer was the first physician in Indiana appointed to the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He was on the Biomedical Ethics Advisory Committee Member in the U.S. Congress in 1987, he held many officiating positions in the American Academy of Family Physicians, and he was on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association. He was a member and past president of the Westside Optimist Club, and had many other national, state, and county honors and affiliations.

In 1984, the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians established the A. Alan Fischer, MD Award; it was designed to “recognize members who in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the IAFP have made outstanding contributions to education for family medicine, in undergraduate, graduate and continuing education spheres.” Dr. Fischer was also published several times in medical literature.

Dr. Fischer retired from IU in 1991 and continued to serve as Medical Director and Staff Physician at Lakeview Manor Nursing Home until he retired in May 2001. He was awarded Medical Director Emeritus. On March 20, 2002 Dr. Fischer was presented with a Certificate of Distinction for 50 years in the practice of medicine in recognition of his “unselfish devotion to patients and loyalty to the medical profession.”

During his retirement, Dr. Fischer remained active with the IAFP and National Academy Sciences. He loved life with his wife, children, grandchildren, and close friends. He enjoyed nature, traveling around Indiana, and his many pets.

Surviving Dr. Fischer is his wife, Beverly and their four children and six grandchildren. They are Steve Fischer MD (Patti) and their children Scott, Amy, and Brad; Karen (Steve) Callaway; Mark Fischer; and Diane (Ron) Rogers and their children Allison, Kelli, and David.

Visitations will be at Crown Hill Funeral Home on 38th Street on Monday March 12, 2007 from 4-8:00 pm. Funeral services will be Tuesday, March 12, 2007 at 11:00 am with one hour visitation prior to service. Internment will follow the service at the Crown Hill Mausoleum. Services will be officiated by Reverend Gretchen Schneider from St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to IU School of Medicine in honor of A. Alan Fischer MD.

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