SAN ANTONIO (Oct. 3, 2018) ― Michael W. Brennan, M.D., a retired comprehensive ophthalmologist from Burlington, N.C., received the 2018 Distinguished Alumnus Award from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio).
Dr. Brennan received the award during a reception Sept. 29 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. The reception preceded the UT Health San Antonio President’s Gala, which had a record attendance of 1,800 guests.
Dr. Brennan is a former president (2009) of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). He is the academy’s international envoy and serves on the Global Advisors Committee. Dr. Brennan also served on the AAO Committee of Secretaries as secretary of state affairs from 1997 to 2004.
A West Point graduate, Dr. Brennan later received a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University. He served as an Army aviator in Vietnam and an instructor at West Point. Dr. Brennan was a finalist in the NASA space shuttle selection process.
After receiving his Doctor of Medicine degree from UT Health San Antonio in 1978, Dr. Brennan completed his residency in ophthalmology at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He served as chief of surgery at Fort Bragg, N.C. Dr. Brennan said he enjoyed single-specialty group practice with his partners, staff and patients at the Alamance Eye Center in Burlington from 1986 through 2016. He is looking forward to an outer space flight with Virgin Galactic in 2020.
Dr. Brennan is a past president of the North Carolina Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. He is a member of several international ophthalmology societies. His special interests include the development of physician leaders and the empowerment of physician organizations. Dr. Brennan has conducted leadership programs in many Latin American, European and Middle Eastern countries. He is now engaged with Sub-Saharan and Central Asian nations. He also directs volunteer physicians who collaborate with a variety of Middle Eastern national medical and surgical specialties to provide continuing medical education and professional development.
Dr. Brennan and Helen, his wife of 52 years, are active in professional and civic affairs in their community. They have four children and eight grandchildren.
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