Today we’d like to introduce you to ALI HASSAN.
Hi ALI, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 1991, my family migrated from Sierra Leone, West Africa. I put myself through college working various jobs from being a gas station clerk to selling ice cream. By 1993, I earned my associate degree at Henry Ford Community college and transferred to Wayne State University where I pursued a Bachelor and a Master of Science degrees in Biology. In 1995, I opened a dollar store to help support my family. In 1997, I started medical school at Wayne State University, graduated and started Emergency Medicine residency at Detroit Receiving Hospital from 2001-2004. In 2004, I started working as a clinician and administrator at the Detroit Medical Center. In 2009, I ventured into starting an urgent care practice and from 2009-2013 opened 2 centers both of which failed. Both were in a multi-specialty clinic for the Detroit Medical Center. In 2013, I decided to dedicate more time to Urgent Care and opened my first independent Urgent Care Center. Fast forward to now, 1st Choice Urgent Care operates 18 centers in Southeast Michigan and continuing to grow. In 2016, I opened a second company, OccMed Connect, a medical practice focused on employer health which complemented what we did at 1st Choice Urgent Care. In 2025, we started franchising OccMed Connect.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road. I had to close the very first 2 urgent care centers we opened. Some of the struggles included: lack of experience in controlling cost, operating these centers only after-hours, doing it part time and without 100% commitment.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At 1st Choice Urgent Care, we are proud to serve Southeast Michigan as a leading provider of urgent care and occupational health services. Our mission is simple: to deliver fast, reliable, and compassionate care for individuals and employers—any time, every day.
What sets us apart is the number of centers we have throughout southeast Michigan and our commitment to 24-hour, 365-day care at our Dearborn EAST location. Whether it’s a holiday, weekend, or late night, patients of all ages can walk in and receive timely treatment from our experienced medical team. We’re equipped to handle everything from coughs and cuts to X-rays, IVs, and work-related injuries.
Through our affiliated company, OccMed Connect, we offer a full suite of occupational health services including drug testing, DOT physicals, injury care, return-to-work evaluations, and more. Employers choose us because we prioritize communication, rapid follow-up, and work-focused treatment plans that reduce downtime and claims.
We are most proud of being known for our accessibility and consistency. At a time when patients and businesses struggle to find prompt, dependable care, 1st Choice remains open, responsive, and ready. Our staff truly understands the needs of both families and the workforce—we’re their 1st Choice.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to us is being available when people and businesses need us most—and delivering care that’s not only fast, but dependable, respectful, and effective.
In urgent care, every minute counts. Patients walk in with pain, anxiety, or uncertainty, and they trust us to help them feel better quickly and safely. We take that responsibility seriously, and it’s why we stay open 365 days a year—because health concerns don’t follow a schedule.
In occupational medicine, what matters most is earning the trust of employers who rely on us to care for their workforce. That means accurate evaluations, clear communication, and treatment plans that support recovery while keeping businesses running. We understand how much is at stake when an employee is injured or when a company needs a compliant, responsive healthcare partner.
Ultimately, what drives us is access, accountability, and trust—values we hold ourselves to with every patient, every visit, every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.firstchoiceucc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstchoiceurgentcare/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1st-choice-urgent-care/posts/?feedView=all
- Other: https://www.occmedconnect.com
