Liberal, KS – Southwest Medical Center is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Dr. Andrey Alexandrovich Ilyasov, a beloved physician and former Hospitalist Director, who served our hospital and community with distinction from March 10, 2014, to July 1, 2023. Dr. Ilyasov passed away peacefully at his home in Rome, Georgia on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the age of 60.

Dr. Ilyasov was an exceptional physician, a respected leader, and a dear colleague who helped transform patient care at Southwest Medical Center. As the founding director of our hospitalist program, he was instrumental in launching and shaping a care model that brought round-the-clock inpatient coverage and closer coordination with primary care providers, ultimately expanding access and improving outcomes for patients throughout our region.

He was also a pivotal leader during the COVID-19 pandemic, when his quick thinking and proactive planning helped Southwest Medical Center navigate the extraordinary challenges of the public health emergency. Drawing on guidance from his physician colleagues in New York who faced the first major wave of the virus, Dr. Ilyasov crafted a comprehensive COVID-19 care plan before the virus reached Liberal. His evidence-based strategy and focus on early interventions helped achieve a COVID-19 mortality rate three times lower than the national average. Thanks to his foresight, our staff was prepared, our patients were cared for, and our community was protected.

“Dr. Ilyasov was more than a physician, he was a visionary, a mentor, and a deeply compassionate human being,” said Amber Williams, CEO of Southwest Medical Center. “His legacy lives on in the structure he built, the lives he saved, and the many people both patients and colleagues he inspired. We are forever grateful for his service.”

Born on August 21, 1964, in Crimea, Russia, Dr. Ilyasov brought more than 25 years of medical experience to his role at SWMC. Prior to his time in Kansas, he had successfully developed a hospitalist program in South Carolina, where his leadership and commitment to patient-centered care were equally admired.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Ilyasov was a devoted husband and proud father of five. He loved exploring the world with his family and cherished every moment with them.

To honor his life and legacy, Southwest Medical Center will hold a community balloon release on Thursday, July 3 at 10 a.m. on the hospital grounds. We invite all staff, patients, and community members to join us in paying tribute to a man whose compassion and leadership helped shape the care we provide today.

Southwest Medical Center extends its deepest condolences to the Ilyasov family and to everyone whose life he touched. He will be missed by many, but his legacy will live on.