Center Named in Honor of
Dr. James and John Brick
During the recent Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Dr. James Brick, Bill Raney, announced the naming of the health center at the Larry Joe Harless Community Center. Mr. Raney, President of the West Virginia Coal Association and long time friend, fondly remembered the beginning of the Dr. Bricks' outreach program to Southern West Virginia. "In 2006, The President of the University and the Med Center challenged them (Dr. Bricks) to “make medicine work” in rural WV. It was a dream come true for them. The first place they went was the farthest point from Morgantown because they knew they wanted a presence in Mingo County so they visited Buck Harless in Gilbert, WV.
Buck knew it was a hardship for the folks of Gilbert and the surrounding counties of Mingo, Logan and McDowell to make the “8-9 hour trip” to Morgantown to get the kind of “specialty care” they truly needed. So Buck gave them a couple of rooms in a 2nd floor corner of the Larry Joe Harless Community Center in Gilbert. I always remember Jim wandering around that day looking at the rooms saying “as long as we have a sink we can make this thing work." And they did—shortly after that the Brick Brothers, Jeannie (John’s wife) and Julie Peasak and any others they could bring with them started making the 8-9 hour drive to Gilbert. The “makeshift” clinic was a great success.
As the success continued, the great WVU Ophthalmologist – Dr. Judie Charlton and other “specialty docs” joined them and Marshall’s Med School and the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine (Lewisburg) became part of the project.
In 2010, the late Senator Robert Byrd and Buck joined together to transform the Center’s theater into a true medical clinic . That, today is under the everyday-management, of the “Southern WV Health Systems” with PA Chris Kelly on duty on whom the people of Mingo County have come to depend as the Brick Brothers, Judie and other docs continue to “make sure” -- “specialty medicine” -- makes its “house-calls” to the folks of Mingo County. What an accomplishment and one they’re taking statewide!
I am so pleased to also announce That “your (John) and Jim’s” -- “absolute Mountaineer Dedication “will forever be known to the people of West Virginia. As the Board of Directors of the Larry Joe Harless Community Center in Gilbert, West Virginia has unanimously resolved that the Clinic in Gilbert West Virginia will, from this day forward be known as the THE BRICK CLINIC in honor of Dr. John Brick and in memory of Dr. James E. Brick."
Video: "It's the Right Thing to Do"
James Brick, M.D.
Dr. James Brick,
practiced medicine with a passion and a compassion—like no other, other than his Brother – John. Together they delivered healthcare throughout our great State.
Jim Brick loved the state of West Virginia and was a dedicated supporter to the Larry Joe Harless Community Center and its' programs. Dr. Brick, a tireless Rheumatologist assisted in the development of many exercise programs, particularly the Arthritis Exercise programs. The Brick Brothers donated to many of LJHCC programs impacting the children and families of Mingo County. He was the first to offer support to the LJH Summer Feeding Program that provided over 5000 meals to hungry children and program adults in the Summer of 2017. He and his brother were faithful sponsors of the LJH Youth Basket program and followed their team ---the WVU Docs. His dedication to the LJHCC and the community will be greatly missed.