Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Brereton
Hi Daniel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My professional story begins when I made the decision to go into medical school. This wasn’t an easy decision as no one in my family had worked in the medical field, and it was completely unknown to me. From the beginning though, I knew I wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. Being young and reckless, I had multiple orthopedic surgeons help me recover from various sports related injuries. From an early age, I had a knack for building and working with my hands and that with a natural love for science, medicine felt like the perfect fit for me. My personal story really feels like it started the first week of medical school where I met my wife Sreyah, another medical student. We instantly had a connection and have been inseparable since that day. We quickly discovered having someone to lean on during the our years of rigorous training was so valuable in a partnership and marriage. During this time, just to add to the rigor, we also started a family and now have four pretty spectacular kids. I had to rush out of the OR in Dallas for the birth of our third child in California, it was quite the flight home! Since that time we have been enjoying the beautiful city of San Diego, raising a family, and practicing medicine. I wouldn’t want it any other way!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
During my time in training, I found out that I had a tumor growing deep in my left ear adjacent to the brain. If left untreated, this could’ve lead to serious neurological complications, such as facial paralysis, deafness, or more serious neurologic complications. In order to avoid these potential complications, surgery was recommended. You can likely imagine how difficult this was as I was in the middle of an Orthopedic residency, which is five years of a very intense surgical training, working 80 hours a week. Time off during this period of time could delay my ability to finish the training on time and prevent me from beginning my Shoulder and Elbow specialized fellowship training. Ultimately though, my family and I made the decision to undergo surgery. This was performed by two very skilled surgeons and after surgery I was in the ICU, and spent multiple days in the hospital. It took me more than a month to recover just to go back to training and even more time to get strong, improve my balance and adapt to my hearing. Even though this was a very scary and difficult time, I was able to make a full recovery and become a thriving orthopedic surgeon, father and husband. While undergoing surgery was one of the most difficult times in my life, this has allowed me to have a different perspective when treating patients. There’s not a surgery that goes by that I don’t think back to this time and try to treat my patients and family with this in mind.
We’ve been impressed with Synergy Orthopedics, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am an orthopedic surgeon and a partner of the largest orthopedic practice in San Diego called Synergy Orthopedics. We have offices throughout the county from Chula Vista to Encinitas and on to Temecula. I primarily practice in Sorrento Valley but am often in Mission Valley, Chula Vista or Encinitas. We focus on the highest level of orthopedic care with specialists in all areas of orthopedics. In addition, we have 5 physical therapy locations an imaging center and surgical center. All of these are focused on the orthopedic patient. We take care of all types of patients, including the highest-level athletes in professional hockey, rugby, soccer in the MLS and NWSL to those that were involved in accidents to those suffering from arthritis. My specific subspecialty training is in shoulder and elbow surgery. I am the only one in our group and one of only a few in the county with his specialty. I treat all aspects of shoulder and elbow injuries, including the most complicated and difficult issues that can be seen in the shoulder or elbow. I enjoy training the next generation of surgeons including the sports fellows from the San Diego Arthroscopy fellow ship learning shoulder surgery. In addition to shoulder and elbow injuries I treat patient with any type of fracture or knee injury. Our care for these body parts includes evaluation to physical therapy to injections to all types to surgical treatment as indicated and to the post-surgical rehabilitation. My goal is an orthopedic surgeon is to keep patient moving, active in, return them to the highest level of activity possible.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I grew up between Southern California and Utah. When I lived in California, I was always involved in sports mainly baseball, soccer, being at the beach or playing in the desert. When we moved to Utah, I continued with these sporting interest, but also became fascinated with the mountains. I became involved in any activity that could be done in the mountains. In the winter I was skiing and snowboarding. In the summer I was rock climber and mountaineering. For less intense activity but potentially more frustrating I would go fly fishing. During this time growing up always had a strong work ethic. My dad was a small business owner and I would work for him in the summers. Eventually, I became involved in construction and really fell in love with building things with my hands. Something that I continue to do in my career now. I also gained an appreciate of being active and suffered a few injuries along the way and with the help of some orthopedic surgeons I was able to be put back together and able to stay active.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/synergysmg
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brereton_orthopedics/
- Other: https://www.breretonorthopedics.com
