Dr. O'Brien was born in Springville, New York. He graduated from the University of Rochester with a double major in Biology & Psychology magnum cum laude. He continued his education in Rochester after he was accepted to medical school through a select early admission program, receiving his MD after rigorous training at Strong Memorial Hospital. He moved to Cincinnati in 2001 where he did his internship, residency, and served as chief resident in Internal Medicine. He has gone on to complete fellowship training in Adult Clinical Cardiology as well as Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology. He earned both Chief Medical Resident and Chief Cardiology Fellow select honors at The University of Cincinnati, and was voted both resident and fellow of the year among his peers. He is triple-boarded by the American Board of Internal Medicine, with subcertifications is Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant, Cardiovascular Disease, and Echocardiography.
Since 2009, Dr. O'Brien has been with Ohio Heart & Vascular, working in Hamilton, West Chester, and at The Christ Hospital, where he cares for critically-ill cardiac patients. He is considered a leader in ultrafiltration and specialist in LVADS. He has made contributions in cardiovascular research trials and has published articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Additionally, he was featured in the 2012 edition of Cincinnati's Top Docs and was elected to serve as Chair of the Department of Medicine (2014-2015) and President of the medical staff of West Chester Hospital (2016-2017).
Dr. O'Brien is married to Dr. Hope L. O'Brien, an adult neurologist and headache specialist. He is actively involved in Solid Rock Church in Monroe, OH and enjoys running and personal fitness.