Joseph Burge, MD

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Posted on: February 26, 2018

Joseph Burge, MD, 69, of Harrisonburg, passed away February 12, 2018.

Dr. Burge was born March 20, 1948, in California and was the son of the late Raymond and Helen Mulner Burge.

On May 27, 1972, he married Suzanne Karen Lindsay, who survives along with his two sons.

Joe grew up in Pennsylvania and learning was a lifelong pursuit. He received his education at Temple University School of Pharmacy (’70) and Duke University Medical School (’74).  He also earned his residency in internal medicine from the University of Utah (’76) and a rheumatology fellowship from Harvard Medical School (’78), where he also spent two years as an instructor in medicine.  He earned board certification in internal medicine, rheumatology, clinical laboratory immunology, and geriatrics.

Joe and Suzanne relocated to Virginia in 1980 where he became a father and worked as an assistant professor of medicine and rheumatology at the University of Virginia Medical School.  In 1989, the Burge family settled in Harrisonburg and opened the Arthritis Care Center, which he operated until his retirement in 2006.  He considered caring for his patients and working with his staff during this time as the most rewarding and fulfilling achievement of his career.

Joe was a devoted husband and father and always placed family at the center of his life.  He was passionate about cooking and acquiring eclectic ingredients to pair with his own home-grown vegetables from his garden.  He also loved hiking, fishing and watching college basketball with his sons.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad.