At Texas Children’s, we’re proud to count more than 400 veterans as part of our One Amazing Team—brave men and women whose passion for a mission of service embodies the core of what our organization stands for.
One of these veterans is Dr. David Brennen, a cardiologist at Main and West Campus. He enlisted in 1998, expecting a fairly “quiet” service term, until 9/11 occurred during his fourth year of medical school and drastically changed everything. He completed his pediatrics training at a military hospital in San Antonio. He underwent hip surgery and was deployed to Germany to continue training in an environment conducive to his recovery. It quickly become evident with training exercises, like preparing for mass casualty events, that his unit would soon deploy to somewhere far more dangerous. In early 2006 they were sent to Kuwait for a month, followed by Tal Afar, Iraq and just 3 months later, Dr. Brennen’s unit would be sent to Ramadi – referred to at the time as “the most dangerous city in the world.”
Ramadi was a primary target for ISIS and insurgent forces who wanted to make the city their capital. U.S. forces were working to take it back, bit by bit. Dr. Brennen’s unit remained in the city 24/7 amid a constant onslaught of insurgent fighting. He served in the 501st Forward Support Battalion, alongside two other physicians, a fellow pediatrician and a neurologist. They were quickly thrust into combat medicine, charged with serving as front line doctors for fellow soldiers, civilians, Iraqi army and police forces injured in the warzone. They faced severe traumas, blasts, burn injuries, and more, working among a highly skilled group of physician assistants and a surgical team. Dr. Brennen refers to it as a challenge beyond anything he could have expected when he enlisted. But he and his battalion served bravely, and defied expectations that they could very likely never make it out of Ramadi.
After his deployment ended, Dr. Brennen returned to Germany to “re-train” in the field of pediatrics at a military hospital. He decided to pursue pediatric cardiology, and upon his return to the U.S. completing a fellowship in Rochester, he and his family returned to San Antonio, where he worked in private practice for nine years before coming to Texas Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Brennen says there are countless lessons he learned in the Army that stay with him to this day. One of the most important things he applies in his work at Texas Children’s is the mantra “you show up.” He says the Army taught him to go where you are needed, when you’re needed. Something else that resonated for him was understanding the mission. He applies the same level of dedication he served his country and unit with to the patients he treats today.
Texas Children’s is honored to be a place where veterans can work, thrive and contribute to our One Amazing Team culture. This Veterans Day, celebrate those in your life who have served or are currently serving our country by sharing your appreciation.