Healthcare Heroes at Stony Brook Medicine: Edward Brogan

“I’ve always known that my purpose in life has been to serve and help people, regardless of the environment or capacity. And that I prefer to serve on the front lines. So, while going from New York City police officer to social worker for Stony Brook Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease may seem like a leap to some, in hindsight, it was a natural step for me. I just didn’t realize it right away, when I started to think about what I might do after I retired from the police force. A lot of officers go into security after they retire. Some even do private detective work. I wasn’t quite sure, but I did know I wanted to further my education. So, I enrolled at Stony Brook University.

The year I retired from the police force and resumed my education was 2001. It seems that tragedy helped guide me, as 9/11 happened, and we were surrounded by people in distress. That, coupled with my brother having learning disabilities, inspired me to ultimately pursue psychology. There was just a real need for support in the world. And I later ended up in Stony Brook’s social work program because I was more inclined to working with people directly. Social work provided that ability. Once I graduated, I worked for a few different organizations, and my clients were patients and their families living with mental illnesses. I also did private practice for some time, as well. Then someone told me about Stony Brook’s Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease, so I applied and have been here since 2019. The progression from working in mental health clinics to the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease was inspired, in part, by my early experience with the grandfather of a very close friend. When we were in high school together, his grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and I remember what my friend and his family went through caring for his grandfather.

There are parallels between my time as a police officer and my present position helping families of those patients with Alzheimer’s disease. As a police officer, you’re often finding services or helping people out of situations that they may find themselves in. As a social worker, you’re finding services and helping people navigate the situation they’re in. And what I enjoy most about the work that I do now at Stony Brook is working directly with the families and caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease and helping them find a path, through their difficulties and sadness, to help their loved ones.”

Edward Brogan, MA, LCSW (Clinical Social Worker, Stony Brook | Center of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease)