Laura Yordy

Columbia, S.C. – Jill Armbruster, director of marketing for UCI Medical Affiliates, has been named to the 2015 Class of 20 Under 40 by The State newspaper. Each year, the paper names 20 young professionals it considers rising-stars in the region for their professional accolades and commitment to community involvement.

According to Kristy Eppley Rupon, writer for The State, “Each of these young professionals is making a mark on the Midlands, choosing to make a home, raise a family or build a business here. They also all know the importance of helping the community be a better place, from mentoring young children to helping build an emergency shelter for homeless families to helping athletes in the Special Olympics.”

Armbuster has been with UCI Medical for nearly three years, and is responsible for a team that handles the advertising and brand management, PR and community outreach efforts for the UCI Medical family of companies. UCI Medical is the non-medical management company for all fifty-two Doctors Care urgent care centers, twenty-two Progressive Physical Therapy locations, and the Doctors Wellness Center.

“It’s a sincere honor to be included in a class with so many remarkable and resilient professionals,” said Armbruster. “While we all have different stories to tell, it’s assuring to know that the midlands has so many individuals who are dedicated to making this part of our state the best it can be. I look forward to what my fellow honorees will no doubt accomplish in the next 20 years, too.”

“We are very proud of Jill. Since she began working here at UCI a couple of years ago, she has been a spark plug of marketing ideas. With Jill’s marketing acumen UCI’s brands are now utilizing multiple channels and venues,” said David Boucher, president and chief operating officer of UCI Medical Affiliates.

Before joining UCI Medical, Armbruster worked in the Corporate Marketing Communications department of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. Prior to that, she served as marketing coordinator at The Boudreaux Group, and was an instructional writer with Palmetto GBA. Armbruster is on the current board of directors for Salute from the Shore, a non-profit organization that organizes a state-wide fly-by each Independence Day to honor and pay tribute to the state’s active and retired military personnel. And she has served on past board of directors for the American Advertising Federation Midlands Chapter, the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties, and the Contemporaries of the Columbia Museum of Art.

About UCI Medical Affiliates: UCI Medical Affiliates is the nonmedical management company that provides support to Doctors Care, Progressive Physical Therapy, and Doctors Wellness Center. Doctors Care has 51 locations in South Carolina and one in Tennessee, and offers family and urgent care services including on-site X-ray and labs. For more information, please visit UCImedInc.com.

Columbia, S.C. – Kelly Ogden has joined UCI Medical Affiliates as vice president of information systems and technology. He is responsible for designing, directing and maintaining UCI’s information systems and technology. This includes all workstations, networks and servers, software applications, data and telecommunications, Internet/intranet and unified communications devices, mobile access and other technologies. He also works to ensure efficient patient registration, patient accounting and electronic medical record operations.Ogden brings more than 20 years of health care IT experience, most recently serving as the chief information officer for UNC Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, N.C., and as director of information technology at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, N.Y. Prior to that he was the chief information officer and vice president of IT at McClellan Hospital in Greenwich, N.Y., and IT director at Ascension Health in Albany, N.Y.

David Boucher, UCI president and chief operating officer, said: “Kelly has a very long and successful track record. We are truly grateful to have someone of his caliber join our team. I am confident that we’ll benefit from his contributions.” Ogden holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management form SUNY Institute of Technology and Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in management information systems from Warren National University.

About UCI Medical Affiliates: UCI Medical Affiliates is the nonmedical management company that provides support to Doctors Care, Progressive Physical Therapy, and Doctors Wellness Center. Doctors Care has 51 locations in South Carolina and one in Tennessee, and offers family and urgent care services including on-site X-ray and labs. For more information, please visit UCImedInc.com.

Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Members of the UCI Medical Affiliates and Doctors Care senior management teams, medical staff from Doctors Care Strand, local city and county government officials and representatives from Kahn Construction broke ground on a new, state-of-the-art medical center on Thursday, January 29, 2015. The 11 a.m. groundbreaking ceremony was held across the street from the current facility at 1221 21st Avenue North, where the new Strand location will be built, and included the ceremonial turning of the earth at the construction site.According to David Boucher, UCI Medical Affiliates president and chief operating officer, the Strand urgent care center is an important asset to not only Doctors Care, but also the existing community.

“With this new state-of-the-art building, that will be over 7,000 square feet when finished, we’re making a significant investment in our employees and the residents and guests of this area — because this region is vital to our overall success, and we plan to support it as best we can.”

Dr. Thomas Gibbons, president of Doctors Care, also added that the center would not be where it is today without the hard work of the physicians and staff and the excellent leadership of the regional medical director, Dr. Dennis Rhoades, and Carrie McMakin, the center manager at Doctors Care Strand.

Physicians and staff in the current Strand location will move into the new 7,000 square foot facility at its anticipated opening date in early summer of 2015. Easier access to services and convenient office hours will remain a part of the Doctors Care Strand experience for patients.

About Doctors Care: Doctors Care opened its doors in 1981 as the first minor-emergency medical center in Columbia, South Carolina. Today, Doctors Care is a premier health care organization proudly focused on delivering exceptional urgent care, family care, preventive and occupational health care and specialty services. All locations offer flexible hours — including evenings and weekends — and do not require appointments.