Every doctor has their own unique path into medicine, and Dr. Adam Brzezinski found his as a patient care technician (PCT) in the Steinbrenner Children's Emergency and Trauma Center at BayCare’s St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. BayCare, one of West Central Florida’s largest employers, is consistently recognized as a great place to work. Dr. Brzezinski’s journey is just one example of when dedication and guidance set a path for continued success.
“From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a physician,” Dr. Brzezinski said. “Working as a PCT seemed like the best place for me to start.”
He adds that he enjoyed the “jack-of-all-trades” aspect of being a PCT. “Anything that needed to be done was on my radar. From cleaning rooms and transporting patients to obtaining vital signs and collecting lab specimens…if it needed to be done, I was more than willing and able to do it.”
The hands-on experience as a PCT laid the foundation for Dr. Brzezinski’s future in medicine and motivated him to attend medical school. It’s also where his interest in pediatric care took root.
“Working in St. Joseph’s Children’s emergency center fueled my passion for helping sick or injured children,” Dr. Brzezinski said. “I fell in love with pediatric emergency medicine during my two and a half years as a PCT, and once I did, I never looked back.”
Dr. Brzezinski was in the first class of resident physicians when BayCare launched its pediatric residency program in July 2022 and in December 2024 was the first BayCare pediatric resident to match into a pediatric emergency medicine fellowship. A fellowship is the training doctors receive after completing their residency to become a specialist in their chosen field of medicine. Dr. Brzezinski’s three-year fellowship will allow him to deepen his expertise in pediatric emergency medicine, an area that has always captivated him.
He attributes much of his success to the mentorship he received from caregivers and faculty in St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital’s emergency center.
"Having a resident like Adam match into a competitive fellowship is a testament to the quality of our program," BayCare Pediatrics Residency Program Director Dr. Jennifer Casatelli said. "It shows that we are producing not just competent physicians, but exceptional ones."
Dr. Juan Carlos Abanses, associate program director for BayCare’s pediatrics residency, is also thrilled with Dr. Brzezinski's match. "Adam is a hard worker and a dedicated learner. His success is no surprise to anyone who has had the privilege of mentoring him," said Dr. Abanses.
BayCare’s first class of pediatric residents graduated on June 30, just in time for Dr. Brzezinski to begin his fellowship. After his fellowship, his goal is to return to where his love for pediatric emergency medicine began years ago - St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.
“Although I’m not originally from Tampa, I do consider it home now. It would be amazing to end up back here after my fellowship, giving back to the hospital that has done so much for me,” he said.
BayCare offers a variety of postgraduate residency programs that train professionals to provide exceptional care to hospitalized and ambulatory patients. Recently, the State of Florida designated BayCare’s St. Joseph’s Hospitals as a statutory teaching hospital in recognition of its expanding investment in graduate medical education. The Agency for Health Care Administration’s designation encompasses all five BayCare facilities under the St. Joseph’s name including St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, all located in Tampa; St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz; and St. Joseph’s Hospital-South in Riverview.
In BayCare’s pediatrics program, residents gain an excellent foundation in general and subspecialty pediatric care. They also serve the community, providing much-needed services to children and their families in multiple locations. Training is led by faculty affiliated with St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, which is home to a medical team of more than 200 physicians with close to 100 pediatric specialists - representing nearly all major subspecialties.
For more information about BayCare’s residency programs, click here.
