Alumni Spotlight: Fred Brennan Jr., DO ’92

Fred Brennan, Jr., DO ’92

Team physician for the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay, FL

The Alumni Office recently caught up with Dr. Fred Brennan for a spotlight in the UNE Magazine

How did you choose UNE COM?

I completed my undergrad at the University of New Hampshire and was a biochemistry major and microbiology minor. I also played football for a couple years which was fun. Because my funds for school were running low, I went to the ROTC building and applied for an Army fellowship and got it- with the hopes that I could get on military scholarship to

medical school as well. When looking for med schools, I applied to 10 or 12 schools and did not get in. And so I went back to my pre-med advisors and they said “you should think about osteopathic medicine.” I didn’t really know what it was, but started reading about it.

When I started applying for schools again, I had an interview at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. A couple days later I got a letter and sent them a deposit. But I had an interview at the University of New England coming up and it really was my first choice. I loved the location, Maine, and New England. I went up to UNE and instantly people were friendly on campus. Dean Walsh was just so nice and accommodating. We were in the waiting room and he said “Doctor, welcome Doctor” and I was like, I'm not Doctor. The whole interview process and the tour of the campus, and how nice everybody was, and just looking at the curriculum overall… I said if I get in here, I’ll forgo the $1000 at NYCOM. And I did the next day. I got a call from UNE saying yes. It was the place to be. I really felt at home.

What advice do you have for people who are just starting out in their careers, or aren’t where they want to be in their career?

I think a lot of it's about balance, you know. Keeping your eye on the prize is number one, but also staying balanced along the way. Don't get such tunnel vision that the rest of the world around you is lost. Enjoy the journey to whatever you're trying to achieve, but don't be so laser focused that you lose sight of everything around. Set your goals and keep your life in balance. Don't overdo anything, just keep it balanced and rely on your family and friends. Don't be afraid to ask for help because there will be times where you're going to need a little assistance. Set your goals and work towards them. Laugh along the way. Cry a little along the way.

Be kind to others. Don’t burn bridges - someday that person that you thought was to be your adversary may be your best friend. Just by chance, you just never know.

What do you like most about your career? What do you find most rewarding?

I think there's a perception out there that professional athletes are prima donnas and they are spoiled and they are a little stuck on themselves. But what’s been really refreshing for me working with Major League Baseball for four years and now the National Football League, a lot of these athletes are just regular people. Many of these players, even the very high-profile players, are just regular people. They'll sit and talk with you and you can definitely see yourself going out and having a beer with them, or just relaxing with them. The perception you see on TV might not be what's really happening in real life. So, it has been really fun to see. My expectations were “Oh, he's never going to talk to me, that's number 12”. And he’s like, “Hey Doc, what's going on?” Like, hey…what? Are you talking to me?

What is a challenge you faced in your career?

The business side of the sport has pressure. You just got to stick to your morals and your ethics when you're making medical decisions. Sometimes the higher levels, the coaches or general managers- they're not crazy about a medical decision, such as a return to play decision. But I try to explain things to them and the athletes so that they can understand. By being clear and explaining how I reached my decision, they know they can trust me.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.