Dr. Alan Brown of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Receives Hospital Hero Award

The Hospital Hero Awards is an annual event that honors the outstanding achievements and events that occur at hospitals that are members of the Hospital Association of Southern California. The event honors health care professionals who are dedicated to patient care and those who help to create miracles for patients. Proceeds from the event benefit the National Health Foundation.

Dr. Brown has been a distinguished cardiologist serving in the Santa Barbara area since 1981. At the peak of his career in December 2002, Dr. Brown joined the Navy Reserves in response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

Dr. Brown was initially serving with to a naval unit in Port Hueneme, and subsequently switched to become a medical officer for a Marine battalion in California.

In October of 2009, Dr. Brown joined the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Marine Battalion and deployed with that unit to serve in southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

During his eight month tour of duty in Helmand Province, Dr. Brown was the Chief Medical Officer and was responsible for the lives of approximately 800 marines and sailors, and provided medical care for approximately 5,000 villagers along the Helmand River.

Dr. Brown’s medical unit initiated a medical civic action program to provide assistance to the villagers which included caring for all ages, from premature babies to the elderly. This unit cared for approximately 100 to 200 villagers per day with a wide range of medical problems including significant infectious disease, malnutrition and traumatic injuries and burns.

After returning to the United States in June 2010, Dr. Brown remained in the Navy Reserves, and in August 2011 was promoted to the rank of Captain and received the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service in Afghanistan.

We congratulate Dr. Brown for earning a 2011 Hospital Hero Award.