Virginia

Dr. Brolinson is Vice Provost for Research, Professor of Family and Sports Medicine and the Discipline Chair for Sports Medicine at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and Team Physician for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech.  He is the director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at VCOM and Virginia Tech. He is also a volunteer physician for the United States Olympic Committee and a team physician for the United States Ski Team and was head team physician for the Freestyle Ski Team at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. He was also named to the medical staff for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, BC and was medical director of the USOC performance services center. He obtained his undergraduate training from the University of Missouri at Columbia earning a degree in biology.  A 1983 graduate of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Brolinson is board certified in family practice and holds subspecialty certification in sports medicine.  Prior to coming to Virginia, he was the co-director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship training program at The Toledo Hospital in Toledo, Ohio and Team Physician for University of Toledo.  He has extensive experience in undergraduate and post-graduate medical education. Dr. Brolinson has served on the boards of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the Midwest Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is a past president of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine.  Dr. Brolinson is a fellow of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, the American Academy of Family Practice and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.  In 1997 he was named outstanding young physician in Ohio by the Ohio State Medical Association. He is a former associate editor for the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine and a former member of the editorial board of the Physician and Sports Medicine.  He is former section editor for Competitive Sports and Pain Management in the journal Current Sports Medicine Reports. Dr. Brolinson is a frequent speaker at national sports medicine meetings and often teaches didactic laboratory sessions on the use of osteopathic manipulative therapy for athletic injuries. Dr. Brolinson is a contributing author in the latest edition of Foundations for Osteopathic Medicine and he has published several scholarly articles and book chapters in the area of sport and exercise medicine. His research interests have included exercise and immune function, exercise and bone mineral density, mild traumatic brain injury in sports, impact biomechanics, human factors in auto safety, sports performance and manipulation and other health and disease prevention related topics. 

Education

Gary began at VCOM in the Fall of 2004 as a Computer Support Technician. In 2006 he became the Director of Information Technology, a position he held until June of 2017. At that point he became the Director of Identity & Account Managment, with duties that now span all 4 campuses.

Dr. Breiner currently serves as Chair of Surgery at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Breiner received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Hampden-Sydney College in 1982. He received his Doctor of Medicine Degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1985. He completed four years of general surgery at the University of South Florida between 1985-1989. Between 1989 and 1990, Dr. Breiner completed a Microvascular Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. During the years of 1990-1992, Dr. Breiner completed his Plastic Surgery Residency at Baylor College of Medicine. After finishing his Plastic Surgery Residency, Dr. Breiner did additional fellowships in Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery in Louisville, Mount Sinai in Miami, and Harvard University. Dr. Breiner was full time faculty at Baylor College of Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery in the division of Plastic Surgery. The Chair of Dr. Breiner’s department was Dr. Michael DeBakey. Dr. Breiner was board certified in plastic surgery in 1995. In 1996 Dr. Breiner moved back to his home state of Virginia and started a solo practice in Roanoke Virginia. Dr. Breiner retired from his active clinical practice in 2014 and now has dedicated the remainder of his career in teaching young, bright minds at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Virginia Campus. 

Education

Investigating the role of clonal hematopoitic (CH) mutation (clonally expanded mutations in immune cells) on the genesis and progression of cancer. Using Machine Learning algorithms, we have developed a genomic screening panel (“liquid biopsy”) for lung cancer based on CH mutations. We are collaborating with VT Carilion Clinic to clinically validate this screening panel. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and cDNA clones we are also investigating the molecular mechanisms by which these CH mutations may affect anti-tumor immune function and tumor growth.

Full List of Publications