2017 Sherry Kohlenberg Award Winner

Dr. David Brenin, chief of breast surgery at UVA’s Cancer Center and co-director of the UVA Breast Care Program, is the recipient of the 2017 Sherry Kohlenberg Healthcare Service Award from the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation (VBCF). This award was created by VBCF to recognize Virginians employed in the healthcare field who “exhibit a deep and abiding commitment to the fight against breast cancer” and to honor Sherry, a healthcare administrator and co-founder of the VBCF, who died from breast cancer in 1993.

Here is an excerpt of his nomination by one of his co-workers:

“Dr. Brenin is strongly committed to excellence in the care of patients with breast cancer. His practice only includes women with breast cancer or other breast diseases. Despite having excellent research funding, Dr. Brenin sees the most patients in our breast clinic- by far. He is kind, respectful, and empathetic to all patients, regardless of background, education, or financial situation. He has the ability to meet patients where they are and help them work through treatment decisions. He is always here both early and late on clinic days. For every patient with a new breast cancer diagnosis, he reviews the images with us (radiologists) before he sees the patient to make the best treatment plans with them after understanding what is present and how we can best manage their disease. He is always open to discussion about management- for example, which patients may benefit from a breast MRI prior to surgery. He has a strong working relationship with the entire breast team.”

Dr. Brenin honors Sherry’s memory through the exceptional care of his patients. His kindness and empathy are what every individual is looking for when it comes to a medical professional. Dr. Brenin has gone above and beyond to serve Virginians with breast cancer.