Orthopedic Surgeon Eric Brewer, DO, takes great pride in helping people return to doing the things they love.
He remembers rebounding from injuries as a student athlete during his tenure as a pitcher for the Saint Louis University Billikens, and it inspired him to become an orthopedic surgeon. “I had two surgeries on my elbow when I was in college, and I was able to come back and pitch. That experience helped me realize that I could help people get back to doing what they want to do at the same level,” he said.
Dr. Brewer recently joined Sarah Bush Lincoln Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and is excited to begin his practice working alongside Orthopedic Surgeons Michael Chioffe, MD, Louis Mendella, DO, Donald Sandercock, DO, AOAO, and Jeremy Stevens, MD, James Kohlmann, MD, and Neurosurgeon Emilio Nardone, MD.
Dr. Brewer said he’s always had an interest in medicine, despite dreaming of becoming a professional baseball player as a child. “My father is a doctor and my mother is a nurse practitioner, so there was lots of medical talk at the dinner table,” he said.
A star high school pitcher, he accepted an athletic baseball scholarship to Saint Louis University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2004. Following his interest in medicine and orthopedics, he entered Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, MO, where he earned his medical degree in 2012.
Dr. Brewer completed a five-year orthopedic surgery residency in May at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine where he cared for people in four states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York. Working long hours and traveling to a new location every three months, Dr. Brewer gained experience performing total joint replacements, arthroscopic surgeries, repairing fractures and handling trauma cases.
“It’s rewarding to be able help people get rid of their pain so they can live the life they want to live,” Dr. Brewer said. While he enjoys working with people of all ages, he was thankful for an opportunity to work with elite athletes on minor league teams for the Detroit Tigers and the New York Knicks during his residency. “These athletes put their heart and sole into their sport, and they just want to get back on the field. It was a great feeling to be able to treat their injuries and watch them get back out and play again,” he said.
Dr. Brewer is eager to work with area residents to help them overcome obstacles that may be limiting them, whether it’s through surgery or medicine or injections. “I like to explore all options to help people get better before recommending surgery,” he said. “I care about my patients as people first and I want to give them the best possible outcomes.” Dr. Brewer specializes in total joint replacements and orthopedic sports medicine.
For more information or to make an appointment with Dr. Brewer, call SBL Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at 217-238-3435 or go to www.sarahbush.org.