Community Corner
Faces of Three Village: Brian O'Hea to be Honored at Walk for Beauty
O'Hea has made a difference in the lives of breast cancer patients through his work at Stony Brook's Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center.
This year’s 18th Annual Walk for Beauty, Walk for Life will begin on Sunday, October 2 at the Stony Brook Village Center. The first walk took place in 1994 and has been an annual event since, swelling in size each year. The event has raised over $1 million for breast and prostate cancer research since and is co-presented by Stony Brook University and the Ward Melville Heritage Organization.
This year’s honoree, Dr. Brian O’Hea, is a resident of Setauket. He moved here from Greenlawn 15 years ago, and has been with Stony Brook University’s Cancer Center since 1996.
O'Hea serves as associate professor of clinical surgery in the Department of Surgery and as chief of surgical oncology. He is also chief of breast service and director of the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center at Stony Brook University’s Cancer Center.
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Patch had the chance to chat with with O'Hea.
Patch: What’s your favorite thing about living in Setauket?
O'Hea: My favorite is how close we are to the water, and how we can take advantage of that.
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Patch: Least favorite?
O'Hea: Crowds and traffic.
Patch: Why did you join the team at Stony Brook University?
When I was at Sloan-Kettering, we had a slew of Long Island women who though New York City was the only place they would be able to receive quality breast cancer treatment. I wanted to give them a place to receive breast cancer treatment right at home.
Patch: What would you say is your greatest achievement?
O'Hea: That in the 15 years since I’ve been here, the program has grown tremendously. We started out serving about 50 women, and now we help over 350. We have a team of specialists who provide world-class breast cancer treatment, so that’s what I’m most proud of.
Patch: How do you feel about being this year’s honoree for the Walk for Beauty, Walk for Life?
O'Hea: It’s a great honor. It’s a yearly event, and it’s the defining breast cancer event for the Stony Brook Hospital. I think the Ward Melville Heritage Organization and Stony Brook should both be commended for organizing this event, and I’m really looking forward to it.
