Joshua Brewster has a master’s in social work and master’s in healthcare administration from U of M, and is the director of Social Work and Spiritual Care at Michigan Medicine, the academic hospital at the University of Michigan. He oversees 300+ social workers addressing the needs of patients and families. Additionally, Josh has an appointment and responsibilities with the School of Social Work building interdisciplinary collaborations and trainings at Michigan Medicine and with partners in Western Uganda. Despite working for our rival Wolverines, Josh continues to consult for his alma mater, assisting the School of Social Work to develop a concentration in health, disability and aging. Josh remembers calling the U of M during his admissions process from a communist-era phone booth in Bulgaria, where he was serving in the Peace Corps.
Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care; Adjunct Assistant Professor
Michigan Medicine,
University of Michigan
MSW 2003
MHA 2010
Incredible discussions in the classroom and outside of the classroom about social justice.
Patients/clients who have overcome tremendous obstacles in life.
Understanding/skills in evidence-based practice; ethical practice; macro- practice skills (from leadership to policy); patience and humor; passion to make a difference, even if you feel alone or underappreciated.
Spending time with my wife and our two dogs walking through the woods discussing the day's political news.
Getting Things Done by David Allen. We have so much to do every day and time is valuable, we have to be efficient.
Teddy Roosevelt and/or Jane Addams.
Finding ways to bring social work services to more patients/clients and translating between social work and the business side of healthcare.
An airline pilot.
Reading journals and books about healthcare trends, leadership, social entrepreneurship, healthcare social work, policy, and biographies of great leaders; conferences/trainings about healthcare and social work.
I had never been to Minnesota before being accepted to the School of Social Work. I applied from Bulgaria – I remember calling with about some question and talking to Megan Morrissey, I was calling from an old communist-era phone booth.