Retired cardiovascular surgeon Philip Brewer, MD, received the 2007 Dr. Clarence C. Butler Service and Leadership Award on January 16 for his dedicated efforts to establish Columbus’ first and only open heart surgery program, which is located at St. Francis Hospital. The program opened in 1974 and became the fifth open heart surgery program in the state of Georgia. Dr. Brewer performed Columbus’ first open heart surgery the same year; 25 years later when last seen, the patient, a respiratory care technician, was alive and well.

      Steve Butler, for whose father the award is named, presented the award to Dr. Brewer at the Third Annual Butler Service and Leadership Award dinner at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. Approximately 530 people attended. The event was hosted by the St. Francis Foundation.

     Linda Shinkle served as chairwoman and Tootie Bickerstaff as co-chair of the event. Sponsors included J. Smith Lanier and Co., CB & T, Synovus and TSYS.

     John Grogan, author of New York Times No. 1 best-seller “Marley & Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog,” entertained guests with stories of Marley’s antics. Dr. Brewer is the chairman of PAWS Columbus Board of Directors.

 About Dr. Brewer

     Dr. Brewer attended Duke University and earned his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine. He completed an internship at Grady Memorial Hospital, was a resident at Charity Hospital of Louisiana in New Orleans (Tulane Surgical Service), and, after serving in the U. S. Air Force from 1967-1969, completed his training in thoracic and cardiac surgery at Tulane and the Ochsner Clinic.

     Dr. Brewer served residents of Columbus and the surrounding area in private practice from 1970 until his retirement in 2002.

About the Award

     The Dr. Clarence C. Butler Award was created to honor the memory of Dr. Clarence C. Butler, who left a legacy of caring for his patients and community. It is presented annually to other physicians, like him, who have had a profound impact on the quality of health care in our region. Past recipients have included Dr. Harry Brill (2005) and Dr. William Hayes (2006).