Dr David Brittain graduated MBChB in 1988 from the University of the Witwatersrand. He specialised in Haematopathology (1996) and superspecialised in Clinical Haematology (1998) from the same university.

After running his own private practice in Johannesburg from 2000 until 2008, he joined Drs Alberts, Bouwer & Jordaan where he has been working as a director in the Haematology and Cellular Therapy field ever since.

He has a special interest in treating leukaemias, lymphomas and myeloma. He is the head of the stem cell transplantation unit at Netcare Pretoria East Hospital. He is a member of the South African Society of Haematology (SASH), the American Society of Hematology (ASH), and the South African Myeloma Working Group. Furthermore, he serves on the Executive Committee of the South African Stem Cell Transplantation Society (SASCeTS).

In his spare time, he cycles, runs, rows, and does woodwork.