A strong interest in science and a passion for helping people motivated Ryan Brennan to go to medical school. His first clinical rotation was in neurosurgery.

“We did a brain tumor case,” Dr. Brennan recalled. “The patient was there on a Monday and went home on a Tuesday with the brain tumor gone.”

Dr. Brennan’s future was clear.

“I wanted to do something meaningful with my life and felt neurosurgery would be the way to do that.”

Joining the military helped Dr. Brennan pay for medical school, and was another meaningful act in his life. Commissioned in 2005, he received numerous awards, served as Chief of Neurosurgical Operations and Director of Trauma Critical Care for US forces in Afghanistan, and earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

“There is a sense of pride in serving your country. It’s a privilege to be a veteran.”

Dr. Brennan feels it is a privilege to be a husband, father and physician, too.

“The difference between treating a patient and caring for a person is a very important distinction to me. My patients get the care that I would want, and that I would give to my wife and my children. I am going to treat you like family. You are going to get the very best care I can give you.”