Dr. Brooks is a Board-certified family physician practicing in Vernon, Connecticut as the Medical Director of Vernon Manor Nursing Home.  A fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) since 1974, he was the organization’s president from 1997 to 1998, and the chair of its Board of Directors from 1998 to 1999.  Dr. Brooks has been involved in guideline development and performance measurement since 1989.  He served on the AHCPR/RAND committee that developed a guideline on the treatment of congestive heart failure and worked with the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association in the development of a guideline on and performance measurements in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.  He has also worked to improve the evaluation of management coding guidelines for practicing physicians.  Dr. Brooks recently represented the American Medical Association on the Board of the Performance Measurement Coordinating Council and has worked with the AMA in the development of performance measurement in the areas of diabetes and acute myocardial infarction.  He also serves on the North American Diabetes Advisory Board for Eli Lilly and Company, the Acute and Chronic Pain advisory Board for Pfizer and does consulting work for other companies interested in the delivery of health care.  He has lectured widely on type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular disease; the management of acute and chronic pain; overactive bladder as well as many other subjects.