Dillan Brewer (MSHA Class 54) serves as a prime example of what it means to pay it forward. His passion for selflessly serving others can be seen through his mentorships and his extracurricular involvement within the health care industry and other nonprofit organizations.

“To me, service means unapologetically giving back to others,” said Brewer. “It’s putting others before your own ambitions and interests and doing what you can to help others with the challenges they face.”

Originally aspiring to be an orthodontist, Brewer decided to pivot into a career in health care administration following an undergraduate internship with the University of South Alabama Children’s and Women’s Hospital. A Mobile, Alabama native, he graduated from Auburn University in 2015 before moving to Kansas City, where he worked as a health care consultant at Cerner Corporation (now known as Oracle Cerner). After three years with Cerner, he decided to take the next step in growing his career by attending UAB, where he earned both an M.S. in Health Administration, in 2021, and an MBA in 2020.

“UAB did a phenomenal job of getting me ready for the career I wanted by preparing me for the intangibles and extracurriculars that are integral to becoming an effective leader in the health care industry,” said Brewer. “It’s clear that UAB’s program sets its students apart through their rigorous coursework and real-world opportunities outside the classroom. I was regularly able to attend lectures by guest speakers and panels of seasoned experts who provided invaluable insights into our profession.”

Following his graduation from UAB, Brewer began working at Children’s Health in Dallas as an Administration Resident. Less than a year later, he became the Program Coordinator for Operational and Strategic Planning. Today, he is a member of the growth and development team, working as a Manager of Clinical Program Operations.

Brewer loves applying his education and experiences to his career and was recently named one of Auburn’s 30 Under 30 for his impact on the health care industry. He plans to continue his professional growth and development at Children’s Health, with aspirations of becoming a senior leader within the organization.

“The mission and values at Children’s are something you can visibly see every single day with our team members,” said Brewer. “They care about the patients and their families and believe in doing the right thing. I’ve been fortunate enough to learn a lot from many great leaders and am excited to be a part of the organization as we continue to grow to meet the needs of the pediatric population in DFW.”

Outside of his work at Children’s Health, Brewer enjoys being involved in several volunteer organizations. After his mother passed in 2021 from cancer, he knew he wanted to get involved in a meaningful way. Following his move to Dallas, he joined the Young Texans of the American Cancer Society (YTACS) as a member of their operations committee and is currently serving as their Vice President.

“Seeing first-hand how important it is to support cancer patients and their families inspired me to join a group that wants to give back and serve. This year has been a year of growth for YTACS, and I’m excited to continue to support the growth and development of the organization as President next year.”

In addition to his role with YTACS, Brewer also serves as Vice Chair of the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE) of North Texas Mentorship Committee, the Auburn University Young Alumni Council, and is an executive board member of the DFW Auburn Club. Brewer’s passion for engaging young professionals and providing mentorship in the health care industry inspires him to continue to grow his involvement in these organizations.

“Mentorship has been such an integral part of my life. Both personally and professionally, I know I would not be where I am today without the mentors that I’ve had. It’s been humbling to provide mentorship and play a role in the growth and development of others as they start their careers. I’m so thankful that I have opportunities to pay it forward and give back, and I plan to continue doing so for years to come.”