Brewer appointed chair of orthopaedic surgery

Jeffrey L. Brewer, M.D., has been named chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. A board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, Brewer has been serving as interim chair since returning to USA Health in 2023.

“We have been impressed with Dr. Brewer’s skills as a leader and mentor, which he demonstrated during his time as residency program director and, most recently, as interim chair,” said John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA, dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs.

Brewer said he is excited to build upon the successes of the department in training new physicians and growing services for adults and children. “I’m happy to work with a great group of people as we advance our academic mission and offer excellent care, whether it’s in orthopaedic surgery or sports medicine.”

He served as director of the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program for three years during his previous tenure at USA Health, from 2015 to 2022.

Brewer returned to USA Health from the University of Miami, where he was an orthopaedic surgeon and assistant professor at the Miller School of Medicine. While there, he served on the Orthopaedic Residency Curriculum Competency Committee and the Leadership Steering Committee in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

“Dr. Brewer has been instrumental in training and recruiting the best surgeons to provide excellent orthopaedic care for children and adults in our region,” said Owen Bailey, MSHA, FACHE, chief executive officer for USA Health and senior associate vice president for medical affairs. “We look forward to continuing this positive momentum.”

Brewer earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kansas. He completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at SUNY Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, New York, where he was named the department’s Resident of the Year for 2011-2012. He also completed a fellowship in orthopaedic trauma at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

An author of several academic journal articles and book chapters, Brewer has presented research on orthopaedic trauma at numerous conferences.