McDonough District Hospital (MDH) has fired a contractual surgeon after learning of alleged misconduct on a local golf course earlier this week.
'All medical staff members are expected to follow the Code of Conduct set forth in the by-laws, no matter if they are MDH staff members, affiliated with a clinical healthcare partner, or locum tenens (temporary/contractual) staff,' Patrick Osterman, vice president of public relations and business strategy, told The Community News Brief.
On Monday, Aug. 10 at 5:26 p.m., the Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety (OPS) responded to Western Illinois University's Harry Mussatto Golf Course after a call came in that a man – later identified as a contractual employee at MDH - was nude on the public course.
According to the OPS report, which was obtained via the Freedom of Information Act, Dr. Robert Judson Brewer, 69, of Greenwood Village, CO, was arrested for disorderly conduct following the alleged incident. He was booked at the McDonough County Jail and released with a scheduled mandatory Aug. 31 court appearance. The McDonough County Sheriff's Office booking report, also obtained via FOIA, listed MDH as Dr. Brewer's employer.
According to Osterman, MDH was made aware Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 11) of a situation away from hospital grounds with a locum tenens general surgeon. He stressed that patient care was not jeopardized.
'Once medical staff leadership and administration reviewed the information, a decision was immediately made to terminate the locum tenens general surgeon's contract,' Osterman said.
The OPS report states that at approximately 5:26 p.m., Monday, Aug. 10, officers were dispatched to meet with an individual who had witnessed a nude male on the course.
The individual was parking a tractor at a nearby residence that borders the second hole of the golf course when he observed a man who appeared to be naked. While speaking to the first witness, two additional people told officers they had also saw a male wearing only a hat and shoes on the green to hole #4. The witnesses stated the subject noticed them and put on shorts. An OPS officer approached a shirtless male, later identified as Dr. Brewer, as he was walking to the green on hole #6. When asked why he was naked on the golf course, he told officers he was hot. It was also noted in the report from another OPS officer there was 'a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage' after Brewer had been placed in a squad car. Dr. Brewer refused a breathalyzer and was subsequently charged with disorderly conduct. He was also trespassed from the WIU golf course.
Brewer first served as a locum tenens general surgeon at MDH in October 2024. He worked 14 different periods as a general surgeon from October 2024 to last week, and over the past eight months, Dr. Brewer worked a total of 40 days at MDH, Osterman stated.
WebMD.com lists Dr. Robert Judson Brewer as employed by MDH and Harlan Arh Hospital in Harlan, KY. According to WebMD.com, Brewer has 43 years of surgical experience.
The overview is based on verified provider data (WebMD. com).
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation website shows that Dr. Robert Judson Brewer has held an active medical license in Illinois since March 27, 2007. His Illinois medical license was renewed July 31, 2026 and is valid through July 31, 2029.
