Dr. Brian Brewer was one of the 40 medical students in the second class at the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership, which helped pave the way to where he is today — back in Athens practicing primary care for internal medicine with a subspecialty of sports medicine at St. Mary’s Outpatient Center.

In 2010, Brewer graduated from the University of Georgia, where he earned his bachelor’s degrees in both biology and exercise and sport science. He credits the university with affording him a multitude of opportunities, mainly preparing him for medical school.

During his last two years, Brewer walked on to the UGA football team. Being an athlete in college exposed him firsthand to encounters with how athletic trainers interact with players. In addition, he was also able to meet the team’s primary care doctors and orthopedic surgeons — connections that he has maintained to this day. Brewer considers them as some of his mentors on and off the field.

Dr. Brian Brewer takes notes on a computer during a physical exam at a recent appointment in the clinic at St. Mary’s Internal Medicine. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Although the Medical Partnership was just beginning to make its mark in Athens and around the state, the decision to enroll came easy to Brewer. He was so committed to attending that he applied to the Medical College of Georgia as an early applicant.

When applying to MCG, the applicant selects a preferred location of Augusta, Athens or no preference, with the latter option increasing the likelihood of being admitted. Once Brewer received his acceptance letter, he requested his location be adjusted to Athens due to familiarity with the town and the fact that his wife was also starting her graduate program for her Master of Arts in Teaching at UGA. It all just made sense.

Brewer describes this time in his educational career as “new and exciting.” Since the student body at the Medical Partnership was smaller, it provided him with more opportunities for direct and frequent interactions with the faculty and fellow students. He thoroughly enjoyed the clinical application aspect of the third and fourth years. “It was more hands-on clinically operative and nonoperative care. I would not have had as much hands-on experience at a larger program with more residents, fellows and trainees,” he said. This is what makes the Medical Partnership so unique and allows the campus to attract top-notch students.

He completed his medical residency through the Medical Partnership at St. Mary’s in internal medicine. After that, he did a yearlong primary care sport medicine fellowship at the University of Kentucky. In honor of completing his fellowship, he and his wife hiked the Appalachian Trail for five months, which was one of the determining factors that led him back to Athens. The professional contacts Brewer made over the course of his studies and residency, namely at the UGA Health Center, allowed him to have a smooth transition after his excursion since he was well-versed in the network.

“It was reassuring to me that I had a place to come back to after hiking where I could practice medicine,” he said.

Patient Jill Cortana of Greensboro talks with Dr. Brian Brewer during a physical exam at a recent appointment in the clinic at St. Mary’s Internal Medicine in Athens. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Being back in his college town also provided him with the opportunity to stay connected to his roots. In his spare time, Brewer provides lectures and presentations to the current residents at the Medical Partnership. Additionally, he holds the title of clinical assistant professor at the campus.

The Medical Partnership has already made a monumental, lasting impact in the Athens community. From Brewer’s class alone, five of his classmates practice in town alongside him. From a residency standpoint, four out of 10 graduates are also practicing in town.  With the establishment of the new UGA School of Medicine, he anticipates those impact numbers to grow.

“The goal of the new school is to grow physician numbers in Georgia and make it a school of Georgians for Georgians,” he said.

The medical field is ever adapting, said Brewer. During the transition to the UGA School of Medicine, it will be an interesting time for Athens medicine. However, he expects there will be more opportunities for community interaction.