Dr. Wendy Rosamund Brewster was born May 24th,1966 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom and died July 24th, 2023 in Bellaire, Texas. She attended Queen’s College high school in Georgetown, Guyana from 1977 -1983 and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University, New Jersey in 1987, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Wendy went on to receive her medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and her PhD in Epidemiology from the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at UCI, joining the faculty in 2000. In 2008, she joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill where she rose to a Professor with Tenure in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology. Wendy was Director of the UNC Center for Women’s Health Research, co-chair of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Equity Council and held an adjunct position of Professor in the Department of Epidemiology in the Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill.
Wendy was the paragon of a caring and compassionate gynecologist oncologist. She was a strong advocate of health equity for patients and committed to fostering an atmosphere of diversity and inclusion. Her research focused on optimizing gynecological cancer screening and early detection and addressing disparate health outcomes. She published over 150 academic journal articles and book chapters and served as Deputy Editor of the Gynecologic Oncology journal. Among her many leadership roles in the field of gynecologic oncology, she was Secretary Treasurer of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology and served as its President Elect 1 through July 14th, 2023. In addition, she held advisory positions in the National Institutes of Health, National Academies of Sciences and the Centers for Disease Control.
Wendy lived life to the fullest. She enjoyed meeting new people and would initiate conversation with strangers wherever she happened to be. Her outgoing, warm, and gregarious personality led to her having more friends than most of us accumulate in a lifetime. Wendy loved traveling, exploring new cuisines, visiting outdoor markets, and hosting dinner parties for her friends. She could not sit still; she was always looking for opportunities to be social and to make others happy. She adored her nieces, nephews and godchildren and knitted blankets for each as an expression of her love. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, not only because she loved giving and receiving presents but because it allowed her to spend quality time with her family. The most precious gifts Wendy gave were her time, love and attention, freely and without condition.
Dr. Wendy Brewster was preceded in death by her parents, Erwin and Pearl Brewster. She is survived by her siblings; Rod Brewster and Dr. Abenaa Brewster; sister-in-law, Ghia Griarte; brother-in-law Dr. Robert Satcher and her loving nephews; Grant Brewster and Robert Satcher and nieces; Natalie Brewster and Daija Satcher, aunts and uncles, extended family, and many friends.
Her family would like to acknowledge the physicians and nurses of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Heart to Heart Hospice Agency for providing her with excellent and compassionate care.
