Dr. Rodney C. Brunson, D.O. is now treating patients in Rio Grande in addition to his Northfield office. He is currently seeing patients at the Cooperative Care building on Tuesdays, and plans on expanding his hours there at a later date.
Dr. Brunson is a solo practitioner focusing on treating chronic pain and drug and substance abuse, as well as medication management. He is a board-certified family physician with 13 years of education and training under his belt.
Dr. Brunson’s medicinal journey began in the U.S. Army. While working toward an associate degree in technology, he served as a medic taking care of injured troupes. This sparked his interest in medicine, and he went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. He came to New Jersey for medical school from his hometown of Baltimore and earned a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine, then completed an internship at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center and a residency in Philadelphia.
When his schooling was complete, Dr. Brunson reentered the military and served as captain of the medical team for the U.S. Air Force. Close to his office was an oncologist who treated cancer patients in pain with acupuncture. This fascinated Dr. Brunson, so he started to study acupuncture.
After leaving the military and working in many hospitals and prisons, Dr. Brunson decided to open his own practice in Northfield focusing on his passion of treating pain, regardless of his board certification in family practice. In the initial years of the opening of his practice, a patient came in inquiring about medication for drug addiction. This created yet another interest for Dr. Brunson, and he went on to study addiction medicine through the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
“The timing was divine,” Dr. Brunson shares. “Everything just came together. I got into a field where we are now having a crisis and doctors are needed.” This is especially true in our blue collar area where there are many young laborers who often hurt themselves and get caught up with pain medications. “I have compassion for these people and want to provide them with medicine responsibly.” His recent work at Cooperative Care in Rio Grande stems from previous work with his mentor, Dr. Manlandro, who focused on drug addiction at that location and was named a top physician in New Jersey.
From a young age, Dr. Brunson knew he wanted to help people. “You have to have compassion, love and kindness toward all living things to do this job, and that’s something I’ve always had,” he explains. With family practice, he wasn’t always sure if he was helping people. But with pain and addiction, he can see the change in an individual, which helps his or her family, and in turn helps the community. “It’s all about looking beneath the surface and seeing the good in a person. I’m always rooting for the underdog.”
How can one get help from Dr. Brunson? In the past, both addiction and chronic pain patients seeking help needed an appointment. But Dr. Brunson quickly learned that when it comes to addiction, people are in pain and need treatment right away. In a moment of clarity, a person’s true self can emerge when they ask for help, and they need that help today before it’s too late. Therefore, Dr. Brunson now accepts walk-in addiction patients. “I believe I am saving lives just by this little change,” he says.
Help can be found at Dr. Brunson’s main office at 201 Tilton Rd., Suite 12, Northfield, or the satellite office at 1076 Rt. 47 S., Rio Grande (Tuesdays only). Office hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (609) 484-7000.
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