John Durwood Bradley, Jr., M.D., 87, passed away at his home in Birmingham, Alabama on December 27, 2022. 

Born on January 8, 1935, to John Durwood Bradley, Sr., and Olive Perkinson Bradley, he attended ACIPCO Elementary School and graduated from Phillips High School in 1952. 

He obtained his B.A. in History in 1956 from Vanderbilt University. On June 14, 1958, he married Rebecca Kathleen White of Smithville. After graduating from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1960, he completed a residency at Baptist Hospital at Wake Forest University. From 1962-1964, Dr. Bradley served as a Naval doctor at the rank of Lieutenant Commander at Camp LeJeune, NC and remained in the Navy Reserve until honorable discharge in 1973. 

His career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham began in 1965 as a Pulmonary Fellow, at which time he received appointments as Chief Medical Resident and faculty in the pulmonary disease division of the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Bradley was named Chief of Staff of University Hospital in 1969. Additional appointments were Associate Dean for Health Affairs of the School of Medicine, Associate Vice President for Health Affairs, and Chief of Staff of The Kirklin Clinic, a post he held until 2001. 

Throughout his career, Durwood Bradley championed the availability of front-line health care to indigents and the poor in the State of Alabama, having served on the Governor’s Taskforce on Uncompensated Health Care and as a recipient of a Robert Wood Johnson grant to study the medically uninsured. He will be remembered for his commitment to deliver quality healthcare to all Alabamians regardless of ability to afford it and for his role in the desegregation of University Hospital. In 1985, then President S. Richardson Hill named him the first recipient of the UAB President’s Medal.

Among his achievements, he particularly held close to his heart his roles in the establishment of UAB’s first medical intensive care unit and first jet aircraft critical care transport program.

He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Rebecca Kathleen White Bradley.

Dr. Bradley is survived by his daughters, Suzanne Bradley McCown (Patrick), Lisa Kathleen Tankersley (Donavan), and his grand-daughter, Olive Eloise Freeman.

A private inurnment will be held at Southern Heritage Cemetery.

Memorials to his life and work can be directed to The Pulmonary Faculty Development Endowed Fund, UAB Gift Records, 1720 Second Avenue South, AB 1230, Birmingham, AL 35294-0012, or to Doctors Without Borders, in the name of Dr. Durwood Bradley, with e-acknowledgments to be sent to Suzanne McCown, sbradley444@gmail.com.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the Bradley, Jr. M.D family.

Ridout's Valley Chapel, Homewood, AL, was in charge of the arrangements.