Alan David Neiberg

Dr. Alan Neiberg was born in 1942 in Pittsburgh. His father Morris, was a motorcycle policeman who died unexpectedly two months after Alan’s Bar Mitzvah. At age thirteen Alan assumed the role of ‘man of the house’, working several jobs to support his mother Ethel, and his two siblings, Sandi and Larry. He accelerated his high school education, graduating at age sixteen. Three years later he received his B.S. from the University of Pittsburgh and then a M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati. During the Viet Nam war, he did research for the USAF in the Aerospace Medical Research lab at Wright Patterson base in Dayton, an endeavor that sparked his passion for aviation. He continued his career in behavioral science as an Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Michigan, Flint.

Fulfilling his father’s dream for him to be a doctor, Alan was accepted into the first class at Michigan State University’s medical school. Commuting and supporting a young family at that time, he graduated in 1973. He completed his Internal Medicine residency, which included three summers spent at Yale New Haven Hospital, in 1976. In the fall of that year, he joined the Internal Medicine practice of Drs Robert Stow and Jerome Cordes. As a clinical professor for Michigan State University Medical School, he taught countless residents both the science and the art, of medicine. He often described himself as a ‘simple country doctor’ yet he was at the forefront of critical care medicine, well before it became a specialty. Dr. Neiberg was a Fellow in both the College of Internal Medicine and the College of Emergency Medicine. He deeply valued the relationships with his office patients and their families. He shared a strong mutual respect with his office colleagues and staff. Dr. Neiberg retired from practice in 2021 due to declining health.

Of his numerous accolades and accomplishments, what he was proudest of, was establishing mid-Michigan’s first Subacute Rehabilitation Unit (Homeward Bound) and, orchestrating a partnership between Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Grand Rapids, and Sparrow Hospital, Lansing. He served as Associate Director of Sparrow’s Rehabilitation Department for over twenty-five years. In 2010, Dr. Alan Neiberg was named Sparrow Hospital’s Physician of the Year.

Dr. Neiberg’s assistance to attorneys and physician colleagues in medical legal matters was a challenge well met; it was valued and respected.

Alan was an accomplished, instrument-rated, private pilot. In his twenty plus years as an aviator he often volunteered to pilot Mercy flights – providing free air transportation to medical centers for patients unable to afford commercial travel.

On March 3rd, 2022, Alan Neiberg passed away, at home, with his wife Judy and dog Mollie, beside him. On Sunday, March 6th, there was a private graveside service, per his request and Jewish tradition.

Alan took great pride in his children and grandchildren – his daughter, Maurine Neiberg and husband Robert Sloan, and their children, Rose and Emma Sloan, and his son Forrest Neiberg, his wife Maryke, and their children Marissa and Bevan Neiberg. Dr. Alan Neiberg leaves a legacy of brilliance, integrity, caring, gentleness and wit. He overcame obstacles early in life to become a respected, honored, and loved physician, father, grandfather and husband.

Those who would like to honor his memory, a donation to Wings of Mercy, East Michigan is suggested. Mailed contributions can be sent to Wings of Mercy Treasurer, P.O. Box 622, Bay City, Michigan 48707. Credit card donations are available through Wings of Mercy East Michigan’s website: http://www.wingseastmi.org.  Telephone donations, call 866-32-MERCY, 866-326-3729; a volunteer will promptly respond. Information about this aviation charity is found at: info@wingseastmi.org or wingseastmi@gmail.com. The entirety of contributions will go towards a new project of providing patient passengers flight bags filled with items to make their travel more comfortable, or airplane related toys for children passengers. A video of Alan describing his Mercy flights can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/MsS9eC045G4.