James Patrick Bradley

Dr. James Patrick Bradley passed away in his home at the Tanoan East Community, in Albuquerque, NM on Friday, March 27, 2020 at the age of 57. Jim was born Friday, August 10, 1962, in West Point, New York and was the son of Jerome Patrick Bradley (deceased) and Patricia Ann (Michaud) Bradley (deceased). Jim was of Irish and French descent. As an Air Force child, Jim traveled the far-east, Hawaii, several US states and then finally settled in Hampden, Maine with his four siblings: Teresa Bradley (Milford, ME), Susan (Bradley) Simms (Hampden, ME), John Bradley (Stroudsburg, PA), and Kathy (Bradley) Caron (Bangor, ME). As a child, Jim excelled in athletics from track and football to basketball, boxing, and baseball. His charm and sense of humor resonated through his many childhood stories: from hitting a homerun and yelling “see ya” each time he stepped on a base to creating a nightcrawler-selling business. He also excelled in academics, which served him well later in life. His need to break out of small-town Maine and make it in the big city drove him to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. The key to Jim’s success was that he studied harder than anyone else. In 1981, he was appointed to the U.S. Army Military Academy at West Point, NY, where he majored in Chemistry, and in the summer, he would attend and achieve Airborne and Air Assault badges. He graduated in 1985 with honors and ranked in the top 5% of his graduating class, earning the title of a “star man”. He was so proud of attending West Point that he wore his entire dress uniform to his medical school interviews. He was one of few earning a spot in a competitive medical program directly after graduation and attended the University of Vermont Medical School in Burlington, VT. He earned his medical degree in 1990 as well as the additional honor of being the first doctor in Bradley family history. He went on to complete his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowships in Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, TX. During his time in the Army, Jim achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

While stationed in San Antonio, TX, he met and married Dr. Rene (Brimm) Pauly. They raised two wonderful children, Taylor Rene Bradley and Christopher Michael Bradley, who both embody his same tenacity, drive, and compassion. His daughter, Taylor, age 23, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 2018 from Georgia State University while competing as a Division 1 softball player. She has applied and been accepted by two medical programs and aspires to be an excellent medical doctor, emulating her father. His son, Chris, age 22, will graduate with honors and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Georgia in May 2020. He will attend the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry in the fall of 2020 in the pursuit of becoming a dentist.

He spent seven years as an Army physician practicing at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, where he served as Medical Director to the Respiratory Therapy Department and the Sleep Disorders Center. He served as Assistant Chief to the Department of Medicine and the Pulmonary/Critical Care Department, and he was on the Medical Education Committee for the Department of Medicine. Jim relocated to Las Cruces, NM where he added to his triple board certification in Internal Medicine, Pulmonology, and Critical Care with an additional board certification in Sleep Medicine. He opened three successful sleep labs, worked at Memorial Medical Center as the Director of the Respiratory Therapy Department, and continued his practice in pulmonology and critical care.

In 2013, Jim was instrumental in the creation of Lovelace Medical Group in Albuquerque, beginning with 2 and growing to nearly 150 providers. He was the Director of the Lovelace Sleep Center, Sleep Medicine department, Emergency department, and Radiology laboratory at Westside. He earned the title of “Provider of the Year” for the second year in a row as awarded by the city of Albuquerque. As a pulmonary and critical care intensivist, he was selected for the Chief of Staff position. He took great pride in his role as the Director of Hospice and often took his children along with him to visit his most beloved patients, a fine example of his empathy, compassion, and kind-hearted nature. Most recently, he helped Lovelace achieve the Best for Quality 2019 Ardent Services Award and was the ICU physician on the front line and in charge of treatment for isolated COVID-19 patients. Jim was a member of the American College of Physicians, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the American Thoracic Society. He has received numerous honors and nominations for his work, including a nomination for White House physician by the Pulmonary/Critical Care consultant to the Surgeon General.

In his free time, he adored taking his children on wild outdoor adventures, trips, and vacations including white water rafting, hiking, mountain canyoneering, four-wheeling, and dirt biking among others. He took pride in teaching his children to ski starting at the age of three and to wake board on his boat in Elephant Butte. Jim was extremely competitive in everything he tried, lived life to the fullest, and loved his children wholeheartedly. Jim was an exceptional father, brother, friend, classmate, and physician. Most of all, he was a hero and role model for his family and the community at large. We love you Daddy/Jimmy/Dr. Bradley; you will always be in our hearts and prayers. Rest in peace. We know you will make a fantastic guardian angel. A Memorial Ceremony will be held at a later date due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Location TBD.