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Infectious Disease News Editorial Board member R. Brooks Gainer, MD, dies at 74
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Infectious Disease News Editorial Board member R. Brooks Gainer, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA, clinical associate professor of medicine at West Virginia University School of Medicine, died on March 29 at age 74.
Gainer graduated from medical school at West Virginia University (WVU) School of Medicine in 1969, according to his curriculum vitae. He had postgraduate training at Akron City Hospital and WVU, where he served as internal medicine resident, then chief resident and instructor until 1973. After finishing his fellowship in infectious diseases at WVU, he joined the Morgantown Internal Medicine Group in 1974 and was appointed to chief of the department of internal medicine at Monongalia General Hospital in 1976. He became associate clinical professor of medicine at WVU Medical Center in 1980 and was an infectious disease consultant for several hospitals.
“Dr. Gainer was always interested in learning and sharing his experiences, Rashida Khakoo, MD, professor and section chief for infectious diseases in the department of medicine at WVU School of Medicine,” told Infectious Disease News. “He attended clinical conferences even during his retirement. He was interested in infection control in addition to infectious diseases and served in many state and national organizations.”
Some of the medical committees and organizations that Gainer belonged to included the Medicare Advisory Committee of West Virginia; the Medical Reserve Corp. of Monongalia County; the Monongalia County All Hazards Advisory Committee; the West Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infection Control Panel; and the West Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Multidisciplinary Advisory Group, according to the Times West Virginian. He also served on the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America’s Long-Term Care Committee, as well as the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Clinical Affairs Committee, Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Guidelines Committee and OPAT Task Force. In addition, Gainer was a member of the Board of Directors for Home Nutritional Services and the Out-Patient Intravenous Infusion Therapy Association (OPIVITA). He was appointed vice-president of OPIVITA in 1994, then served as the organization’s president from 1996 to 1999. Gainer was also the deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Morgantown and president of the nonprofit Mountaineer Spay Neuter Assistance Program (M-SNAP).
After more than 30 years at the Morgantown Internal Medicine Group, Gainer retired in 2005, according to The Dominion Post. He practiced medicine for nearly 50 years. During his retirement, Gainer frequently volunteered at the ReTails thrift shop, which dedicates proceeds to M-SNAP, The Dominion Post reported. He and his wife, Suzanne, who was a medical technologist and founded a clinical research company in West Virginia, were married more than 50 years before Suzanne passed away in August. They are survived by two daughters and six grandchildren.
“Dr. Brooks Gainer chose a career of service to people. His wife, Suzanne, added the animal component to his love of community service,” M-SNAP Board Member Nancy Young told Infectious Disease News. “Suzanne and Brooks were wonderful advocates for dogs and cats and their home was a testament to their dedication. In 2008, they were among 22 founders of M-SNAP. This all-volunteer, nonprofit organization promotes spay/neuter as the only viable solution to pet overpopulation by offering assistance and education to residents of Monongalia County, West Virginia. Dr. Gainer served as the Chair of the M-SNAP Fundraising Committee since 2010 and Chairman of the Board since 2012. He was very unselfish with his time and was loved by everyone.”