Longtime EMU Team Physician David Alvarez Passes Away

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Former Eastern Michigan University Athletic Department team physician Dr. David Alvarez passed away Thursday, Jan. 13, at the age of 62. Alvarez joined EMU in 1995 and remained with the school until 2014, serving as a sports medicine fellow, physician, and head team physician.

In addition to his work at EMU, Alvarez was known for being a highly-skilled family physician and was widely sought after in the industry. He took care of patients at both Domino’s Farms Family Medicine and MedSport, as a family physician and primary care sports medicine physician in the orthopedics department.

Alvarez was friendly, calm in the face of adversity, and always willing to help. He mentored many students, residents, fellows, and athletic trainers over the decades. Alvarez worked closely with Dr. Wally Roeser and former EMU Head Athletic Trainers Gary Strickland and Steve Nordwall to provide first-class prevention, management and rehabilitation of athletic injuries for all Eastern Michigan student-athletes.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy at Butler University in 1982 and added his medical degree from Michigan State University in 1989. Shortly thereafter, Alvarez served an internship at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, Calif. While he was in the United States Navy, Alvarez worked in the Flight Surgery Training for three years in Norfolk, Va.

He completed his residency and was a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine.

Alvarez was a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

He was married to Dr. Pamela Rockwell and they have two children, Teddy and Christina.  

A visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 21, from 5-7 p.m. at Muehlig Funeral Chapel (403 S. 4th Ave. Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104). A visitation will occur Saturday, Jan. 22, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by a memorial service at Muehlig Funeral Chapel.

For the safety of all, the family requests that those visitors coming to the funeral home for visitation, or the service are limited to those who are both vaccinated AND boosted against COVID-19 and wearing a medical-grade mask.

     

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.muehligannarbor.com for the Alvarez family.