Colon cancer screening update: Start earlier, choose the best test
October 1, 2018
Vice Chair, Clinical Operations; Chief of Community Radiology
Cecelia C. Brewington, M.D., FACR, is a Professor in the Department of Radiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center who also serves as its Vice Chair of Clinical Operations.
Certified in diagnostic radiology by the American Board of Radiology and fellowship-trained in body imaging, Dr. Brewington was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Radiology in 2018.
At UT Southwestern, she serves as Medical Director for two cancer prevention program: CT Lung Cancer Screening and Virtual Colonoscopy (CT Colonography) Screening for colon cancer.
In addition to her clinical and teaching activities, Dr. Brewington holds a number of administrative roles, including serving as a member of the Southwestern Health Resources Accountable Care Network's Medical Advisory Committee, and as Chief of Community Radiology.
Dr. Brewington’s research interests include 3-D ultrasound evaluation of urinary incontinence treatments, CT lung perfusion and relationship to genetic mutations of lung cancers (her research in this field has been patented).
She has published a number of scholarly articles and delivered many national and international presentations related to her specialty.
Dr. Brewington’s honors include the Radiological Society of North America’s 2011 Certificate of Merit and the Society of Thoracic Radiology’s 2015 Jack Westcott Award.
Dr. Brewington earned her medical degree at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in Omaha. She then completed her residency and fellowship training at UT Southwestern.
Since joining the faculty in 1996, Dr. Brewington has managed radiology operations for UT Southwestern’s growing outpatient and hospital imaging services, including the establishment of new services in Fort Worth and Frisco. Among her 60-plus committee assignments, Dr. Brewington has held positions involving the incorporation of HIPAA guidelines, the Health System five-year strategic plan, and has served on the business operations board of the Medical Service Research and Development Plan.
She is a member of numerous professional societies and organizations, including the American Medical Association, American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, and Texas Radiological Society.
Dr. Brewington is also known as an advocate for the health of underserved populations, and a mentor to women and people of color at UT Southwestern.
As someone who strives to lead a purposeful and meaningful life, helping others as a physician has been a realization of a life goal for Cecelia Brewington, M.D. She knew early in her medical training that she’d found an excellent way to continue to expand on that goal through radiology.
“Radiology plays a pivotal role in population health as it interfaces with patients across a longitudinal spectrum of care, Dr. Brewington says. "Prevention, acute care, and chronic surveillance and intervention are its major focus points. The practice of radiology integrates my desire to help patients with my interest in technological innovations and emerging artificial intelligence."
Using an array of advanced imaging technologies, Dr. Brewington and her team evaluate and diagnose conditions ranging from urinary incontinence to broken bones and cancer; screen patients for conditions that include cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer; perform presurgical assessments; and evaluate postsurgical complications.
Dr. Brewington also serves as Co-Medical Director for UT Southwestern’s CT Lung Cancer Screening Program, aimed at identifying precancerous lesions in people who are at high risk for developing lung cancer.
In addition, she is an administrator, overseeing her team’s activities both in the community and at the hospital.
“From quality assurance to program development, my goal is to make sure our program is always geared toward efficiently providing patients with the highest-quality care,” she says.
Dr. Brewington believes that compassion is another critical part of her profession.
“People are most vulnerable when they’re sick or afraid, and as physicians, I think we have a responsibility to be empathetic and responsive,” she says. “That’s when we can really use our skills to help someone else.”
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