In 1952, Dr. Henry Renfert dreamt of bringing something new to the city of Austin: a multispecialty medical group of physicians who collaborate and innovate with a patient-first approach. This year, his brainchild Austin Diagnostic Clinic is celebrating seven decades of bringing that vision to life.

With 20 locations across Central Texas, Austin Diagnostic Clinic’s broad network of highly-skilled physicians are experts in 21 different specialties. Though the world has changed drastically since ADC’s inception, the clinic’s values have stayed true to its original mission.

“[Dr. Renfert] had a vision of building a multi-specialty group in Central Texas to take care of patients like the Mayo Clinic takes care of patients up in Minnesota,” said Bob Bush, CEO of Austin Diagnostic Clinic. “No matter what the person’s age is or what part of their life they’re in, if there’s a challenge, they can go to Austin Diagnostic Clinic.”

Dr. Renfert’s journey started as a solo practice, but in 1972, he and a group of 12 doctors officially coined the name Austin Diagnostic Clinic to reflect their goal: to aid Central Texans by diagnosing and treating their ailments.

“In the 1960s and 70s when the name Austin Diagnostic Clinic came into being, the diagnostician was a physician who would kind of figure out what’s wrong with you. So that term stays with us,” said John Villacis, MD, Board Chairman and President of Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

As the only multispecialty group in Austin, Dr. Villacis said ADC was “the place to go” for anyone experiencing health issues between San Antonio and Austin. Though ADC has grown exponentially since then, its culture remains the same. With a shared belief that taking care of others is life’s greatest joy, ADC’s physicians and staff focus on the health, happiness, education and well-being of its patients.

“We’re able to give good quality care in a friendly, welcoming way, but that reflects our internal culture of collaboration, compassion and respect,” Dr. Villacis said. “These are all core values that we hold [but also] a genuine feeling and the reason why I think we’re successful.”

The clinic’s model is not only rooted in providing the highest level of care, but also the highest level of convenience for patients, who have access to experts across multiple health care fields without the pain of switching between different clinics.

“Part of ADC’s success has been the multispecialty concept. It’s a one-stop-shop. You can come see your allergist, you can come see your pediatrician under one roof,” Dr. Villacis said. “There’s a certain level of convenience that people enjoy.”

On Oct. 22, the city of Austin celebrated ADC’s Founders Day to reflect on its trailblazing over the years; ADC was the first group to bring EKGs to Austin in the ‘70s, and among the first to offer the COVID-19 vaccine. At the event, its five most tenured physicians and colleagues, one who has been with ADC for 40 years, were honored for their impact on the community.

“I’m awestruck in the realization that it could be millions of lives that have been made better because of what we’ve done, not just the physicians but the technology and new systems we brought along with us and how that has impacted lives,” Bush said.

Looking toward the future, Bush and Dr. Villacis said ADC plans to expand its physical presence in Central Texas and continue to grow the number of lives positively impacted by its reach—making sure each and every patient feels seen, heard and receives the personalized care and support they deserve.

“We have always kept the patient first. Every decision we make is looking, ‘Hey, how’s this going to impact the patients?” Bush said. “As we add new services and new physicians, it’s going to enhance the patients’ care, because that’s what we’re here for ... Our focus is how to make each person that we see on a daily basis’ quality of life better.”

For those new to the Central Texas area or looking for a new health care provider, an Austin Diagnostic Clinic physician at a nearby clinic is waiting to fulfill their mission statement: to provide exceptional and compassionate care through an integrated model of a high-quality healthcare team.

“We want to continue to be a patient-centric practitioner and staff-friendly organization. We want this to be the place where if somebody needs health care, this is the place where you want to go. If you want to work in a health care environment, this is the place you want to work,” Dr. Villacis said.

Interested in learning more about Austin Diagnostic Clinic? Head to their website adclinic.com to learn about its physicians, make an in-person or telehealth appointment, view locations and find out about career opportunities.

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