Phillip Brenner – Urological Surgeon

Dr. Phillip Brenner, who previously served as the head of the urology unit at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, New South Wales, is one of the only surgeons in the country who has undergone specific training for the treatment of urological cancers. Dr. Phillip Brenner benefited from extensive study and training in the United States, which included a fellowship with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a renowned institution that is surely among the absolute best the world has to offer.

1. What are some things that you love?

I love that my career has provided me with the opportunity to help so many people who understand the difficulties and hardships associated with urological cancers like cancer of the prostate or cancer of the kidneys. Every day of my 22 years in the medical field seems to be more rewarding than the last, and it is easy to love a profession that is so consistent in this regard.

2. What’s your favorite film?

I followed the career of Dr. Oliver Sacks for many years before the film “Awakenings” was made, so I appreciated that the film was accurate and successfully relayed the story of Dr. Sacks and the work he dedicated so much of his life to. He is a truly fascinating individual and the breadth of his work in neuroscience is simply incredible.

3. What can you look forward to in the future?

Technology is fascinating to me, but even I have been surprised at the speed with which new technology capable of yielding absolutely amazing results is made available. As a surgeon, I use the Da Vinci Robot while performing certain procedures, which has generated benefits for my patients — including through the increased availability of minimally invasive procedures as well as the increased likelihood of preserving kidney function — as well as myself. It is for this reason that I continue to look forward to a future in which new innovations will simplify just about everything we do.

4. What’s your favorite thing about working in your industry?

There is a lot I enjoy about the field of urology and my role at St. Vincent’s Hospital, so identifying one favorite thing is quite difficult. Ultimately, it is the people that make any endeavor worthwhile, and I deeply enjoy working with patients and colleagues at St. Vincent’s. It brings me a great deal of joy to see our patients overcome the obstacles and challenges they happy wheels demo face, and I am proud to work alongside so many dedicated professionals who understand how critical it is to provide a level of care that goes above and beyond the call of duty.

5. What motivates you every day?

When I entered the medical profession more than 22 years ago, I did so with the goal of helping people through difficult circumstances regarding their health and wellbeing. The idea that my professional role provides opportunity after opportunity to help a patient and their family due to my experience and expertise is a potent source of intrinsic motivation for me, but I have also found that these patients and their family members provide an additional source of extrinsic motivation that is so energizing that the impact is simply beyond description.