CAROLINA BEACH — Friday, a well-known local physician was taken into custody on multiple charges.
Damian Brezinski, 61, has been arrested for first degree sexual offense and indecent liberties with a child. He is being held under a $1.5-million bond at the New Hanover County Detention Center.
For eight years, Brezinksi has run the private practice Island Cardiology in Carolina Beach. Beforehand, he worked in the cardiology department for Wilmington Health Associates for more than two decades
The doctor was involved in a healthcare fraud civil suit with WHA before opening his practice in 2016. In 2019, $244,000 was paid to settle civil claims under the False Claims Act due to improper payments made under the Medicare and Tricare programs.
The suit claimed from “2010 to 2014, Brezinski repeatedly inserted arterial stents for patients whose medical records did not demonstrate a need for the procedures.”
New Hanover Regional Medical Center also had to pay out $900,000 in facility fees received for the surgeries; the suit was opened after NHRMC conducted an internal audit.
Brezinski has been well-known in the community for years for his nonprofit efforts and love for music. He ran the concert benefit Chords for a Cause, which brought together classical musicians with popular musicians, such as Wilmington Symphony Orchestra performing with Sister Hazel for a one-night show. It raised money for area nonprofits.
The doctor also founded Keep The Beat Alive, a foundation that focuses on providing heart care services to people in the music industry.
In 2017, Brezinksi owned and operated the downtown music venue Blue Eyed Muse, located at 208 Market St. It was shuttered when New Hanover County building inspections found it in disrepair and ruled it unsafe.
At the time, according to building owner Joseph Hou, Brezinksi hadn’t paid his rent, utilities or contractors to correct repairs; Brezinski denied such. He told Port City Daily in 2017, there was a “glitch” in remitting payments which became up to date and that he hired a private building inspector who found far deeper issues with the building, forcing him to close. Just this year, 208 Market St. has been demolished, to be rebuilt as apartments.
Brezinski’s first court date is scheduled for Monday, May 6.
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