Legislator Steven J. Flotteron recognized Christopher M. Brennan, MD, as the 2021 Suffolk County Healthcare Hero Award nominee for the 11th Legislative District.
The West Islip native is a Hospitalist in the Emergency Department at Good Samaritan Hospital. Saving lives runs in the family for Dr. Brennan, where as a kid he was a lifeguard at Fire Island, following the footsteps of his parents and siblings.
His training proved useful on a recent fishing trip with his friends in the Great South Bay when he saw an elderly man fall off a nearby boat and into the water. It was rough, windy and cold, and after other boaters and the coast guard were unsuccessful in getting the man to safety, Dr. Brennan put the man on his shoulders and pushed him up and over the railing onto the deck of the boat, ultimately saving his life.
Having lost somebody very close to him, his younger brother Michael, who had just graduated Medical School and his cousin who were killed in an automobile accident, he took great comfort in knowing that he was able to save the life of someone else’s loved one. In addition, having been well known in the community and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic he wanted to help families and friends as much as possible. In so doing, he was able to bring a family to the bedside with their father via whattsapp and video conference calling.
“I couldn’t imagine being away from and not able to touch loved ones for months at a time,” said Dr. Brennan. “I am so grateful for the nurses, assistants, PAs/NPs that work as a team to improve patient outcomes.”